Is Bill Gates injecting mRNA vaccines into the food supply?
Is Bill Gates injecting mRNA vaccines into the food supply?
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There is no evidence of COVID-19 vaccines being given to livestock anywhere in the world, nor are any COVID-19 vaccines approved to give to livestock. There are also no mRNA vaccines currently being used to vaccinate livestock or poultry. There are a number of vaccines regularly given the chicken and livestock being raised for consumption to combat a host of viruses. The two main kinds are Modified Living Vaccines and Non-Living Vaccines. These vaccines are both used to protect and promote cattle health and consumer health. There is a period called a withdrawal period that cattle and poultry farms must follow that requires that a specific amount of time must pass between an animal getting vaccinated and an animal being slaughtered for processing. This period ensures that no traces of vaccine or medication are present in meat. Without this period, there is empirical speculation that trace amounts of vaccine could be present in meat, but it is not likely and would not lead someone to be what we consider vaccinated. There is an experimental vaccine called an edible vaccine being studied using genetically modified plants. No edible vaccines are approved and would never be given unknowingly or without consent.
There is no evidence of COVID-19 vaccines being given to livestock anywhere in the world, nor are any COVID-19 vaccines approved to give to livestock. There are also no mRNA vaccines currently being used to vaccinate livestock or poultry. There are a number of vaccines regularly given the chicken and livestock being raised for consumption to combat a host of viruses. The two main kinds are Modified Living Vaccines and Non-Living Vaccines. These vaccines are both used to protect and promote cattle health and consumer health. There is a period called a withdrawal period that cattle and poultry farms must follow that requires that a specific amount of time must pass between an animal getting vaccinated and an animal being slaughtered for processing. This period ensures that no traces of vaccine or medication are present in meat. Without this period, there is empirical speculation that trace amounts of vaccine could be present in meat, but it is not likely and would not lead someone to be what we consider vaccinated. There is an experimental vaccine called an edible vaccine being studied using genetically modified plants. No edible vaccines are approved and would never be given unknowingly or without consent.
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What our experts say
Are COVID-19 vaccines being used on livestock? What about other mRNA vaccines?
No. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are being given to livestock in any part of the world, and there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for livestock in any part of the world. Also, while mRNA is being explored as a way of vaccinating livestock or poultry against various diseases, there are no mRNA vaccines currently being used to vaccinate livestock or poultry.
What vaccines are usually used on livestock?
There are a number of vaccines regularly given the chicken and livestock being raised for consumption to combat a host of viruses. These vaccines can be grouped into two main categories: 1) Modified Live Vaccines, and 2) Non-Living Vaccines.
There are three main types of Modified Live Vaccines: 1) Live attenuated, 2) Gene-Deleted, and 3) Virus-vectored. For Non-Living Vaccines, there are four main types: 1) Subunit, 2)Antigens (generated by gene cloning), 3) DNA Plasmid Vaccines, and 4) Alphavirus Replicons.
These vaccines are given to livestock to prevent a range of diseases. Some of these diseases, using cows as an example, include bovine rhino-tracheitis (IBR), bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), parainfluenza-3 (PI-3), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). These vaccines are both used to protect and promote cattle health for the sake of productivity and profitability for companies, and for the health of consumers.
There is typically a mandated period called a withdrawal period that regulates how much time needs to pass between a vaccine given to an animal and when the animal is killed for processing. This period ensures that no medication or vaccination is present in the meat.
Can vaccines be transferred to humans through consumption of meat or other dairy products from livestock that have received any vaccination?
No, vaccinations cannot be transferred from a vaccinated animal to people consuming a product of that animal. Receiving a vaccine injection is completely different from eating an animal product from an animal that received a vaccine injection. It is possible that if the withdrawal period isn’t followed, some trace amount of the vaccine could be present in the meat, but it is not likely, and would not result in someone being what we consider to be vaccinated.
It makes sense logically why this myth has gained traction and may make sense to some, because it is not always the case that the medical treatment of animals does not have an impact on how humans consume them. For instance, eating meat or drinking milk from an animal with antibiotic-resistant bacteria could infect the human consumer with the same resistant bacteria.
However, vaccines work in a totally different way, and this false claim demonstrates a baseline misunderstanding of how vaccines function. When it comes to mRNA vaccines, the vast majority of mRNA stays at the injection site. The rest of the dose then drains through the lymphatic system, into the liver, and then is destroyed by enzymes there. mRNA overall is unstable and breaks down quickly. This is why mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are less accessible globally because they must stay very cold in a freezer.
After most of the mRNA is broken down, any animal that received any sort of vaccination is processed through methods such as cooking, preserving, and freezing, which would further break down any remaining mRNA.
To reiterate, there are not currently any mRNA vaccines being used on livestock. While other vaccines are typically more stable than mRNA and may break down differently, all vaccines given to livestock or poultry are not likely to be present in meat after the withdrawal period and processing. Without the withdrawal period, there would be concerns about vaccine strains being present at the time of slaughter and possibly consumption.
There is a type of experimental vaccine known as an edible vaccine. This type of “vaccine” is a food – typically a plant such as potatoes, rice, or bananas – that has been genetically modified to have antigens that train the immune system to protect against specific diseases. Edible vaccines are currently in development for measles, cholera, foot and mouth disease, and Hepatitis B and C. No edible vaccines are currently approved, and no edible vaccines are currently being explored through meat or other animal products. To be approved, this type of vaccine would need to have strong evidence of safety and efficacy, and would need to be well-regulated and opted into. In other words, edible vaccines would not be given to people without consent.
Are COVID-19 vaccines being used on livestock? What about other mRNA vaccines?
No. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are being given to livestock in any part of the world, and there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for livestock in any part of the world. Also, while mRNA is being explored as a way of vaccinating livestock or poultry against various diseases, there are no mRNA vaccines currently being used to vaccinate livestock or poultry.
What vaccines are usually used on livestock?
There are a number of vaccines regularly given the chicken and livestock being raised for consumption to combat a host of viruses. These vaccines can be grouped into two main categories: 1) Modified Live Vaccines, and 2) Non-Living Vaccines.
There are three main types of Modified Live Vaccines: 1) Live attenuated, 2) Gene-Deleted, and 3) Virus-vectored. For Non-Living Vaccines, there are four main types: 1) Subunit, 2)Antigens (generated by gene cloning), 3) DNA Plasmid Vaccines, and 4) Alphavirus Replicons.
These vaccines are given to livestock to prevent a range of diseases. Some of these diseases, using cows as an example, include bovine rhino-tracheitis (IBR), bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), parainfluenza-3 (PI-3), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). These vaccines are both used to protect and promote cattle health for the sake of productivity and profitability for companies, and for the health of consumers.
There is typically a mandated period called a withdrawal period that regulates how much time needs to pass between a vaccine given to an animal and when the animal is killed for processing. This period ensures that no medication or vaccination is present in the meat.
Can vaccines be transferred to humans through consumption of meat or other dairy products from livestock that have received any vaccination?
No, vaccinations cannot be transferred from a vaccinated animal to people consuming a product of that animal. Receiving a vaccine injection is completely different from eating an animal product from an animal that received a vaccine injection. It is possible that if the withdrawal period isn’t followed, some trace amount of the vaccine could be present in the meat, but it is not likely, and would not result in someone being what we consider to be vaccinated.
It makes sense logically why this myth has gained traction and may make sense to some, because it is not always the case that the medical treatment of animals does not have an impact on how humans consume them. For instance, eating meat or drinking milk from an animal with antibiotic-resistant bacteria could infect the human consumer with the same resistant bacteria.
However, vaccines work in a totally different way, and this false claim demonstrates a baseline misunderstanding of how vaccines function. When it comes to mRNA vaccines, the vast majority of mRNA stays at the injection site. The rest of the dose then drains through the lymphatic system, into the liver, and then is destroyed by enzymes there. mRNA overall is unstable and breaks down quickly. This is why mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are less accessible globally because they must stay very cold in a freezer.
After most of the mRNA is broken down, any animal that received any sort of vaccination is processed through methods such as cooking, preserving, and freezing, which would further break down any remaining mRNA.
To reiterate, there are not currently any mRNA vaccines being used on livestock. While other vaccines are typically more stable than mRNA and may break down differently, all vaccines given to livestock or poultry are not likely to be present in meat after the withdrawal period and processing. Without the withdrawal period, there would be concerns about vaccine strains being present at the time of slaughter and possibly consumption.
There is a type of experimental vaccine known as an edible vaccine. This type of “vaccine” is a food – typically a plant such as potatoes, rice, or bananas – that has been genetically modified to have antigens that train the immune system to protect against specific diseases. Edible vaccines are currently in development for measles, cholera, foot and mouth disease, and Hepatitis B and C. No edible vaccines are currently approved, and no edible vaccines are currently being explored through meat or other animal products. To be approved, this type of vaccine would need to have strong evidence of safety and efficacy, and would need to be well-regulated and opted into. In other words, edible vaccines would not be given to people without consent.
Context and background
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Resources
- Fact Check-Bill Gates did not say he wants to ‘vaccinate animals to give them better genetics’ (Reuters)
- Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- NCBA Statement Correcting Internet Falsehoods About mRNA Vaccines in Cattle (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association)
- No, farmers aren’t required to vaccinate livestock with mRNA vaccines (Associated Press)
- Vaccination of Cattle and Calves in the U.S. Beef Cow-calf Operations (Animal Plant Health Infection Services)
- Vaccinations for the Beef Cattle Herd (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
- Vaccines and Vaccinations: Production Animals (University of Minnesota)
- Meme Spreads Falsehood About Vaccine Transfer Through Eating Meat (FactCheck.org)
- mRNA vaccine cannot transfer through meat consumption (AFP Fact Check)
- Fact Check-Bill Gates did not say he wants to ‘vaccinate animals to give them better genetics’ (Reuters)
- Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
- NCBA Statement Correcting Internet Falsehoods About mRNA Vaccines in Cattle (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association)
- No, farmers aren’t required to vaccinate livestock with mRNA vaccines (Associated Press)
- Vaccination of Cattle and Calves in the U.S. Beef Cow-calf Operations (Animal Plant Health Infection Services)
- Vaccinations for the Beef Cattle Herd (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
- Vaccines and Vaccinations: Production Animals (University of Minnesota)
- Meme Spreads Falsehood About Vaccine Transfer Through Eating Meat (FactCheck.org)
- mRNA vaccine cannot transfer through meat consumption (AFP Fact Check)
