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Health

Seasonal flu and COVID-19
10 January 2022

Explaining seasonal flu, measuring outbreaks, and understanding excess winter mortality.

“Seasonal flu” is a very common illness, and tends to be more severe than the common cold. The most common symptoms are a sudden high

Explainer

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Health

COVID-19 and excess deaths in Northern Ireland and the world
10 January 2022

What are excess deaths, how is COVID-19 affecting them, and how does Northern Ireland compare to the rest of the world?

There has been a lot of discussion in relation to “excess deaths” and COVID-19. This term is not specific to this pandemic and has been

Health

Do COVID-19 vaccines contain animal products?
30 November 2021

CLAIM: Vegans cannot take COVID-19 vaccines because they contain animal products.

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INACCURATE

The claim is not accurate. No COVID-19 vaccine currently in use contains animal products.  Context On The Nolan Show (30/11/2021 from 10.21) a caller claimed

Health

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Law

Is Northern Ireland the only part of Europe without climate change legislation?
24 November 2021

CLAIM: Northern Ireland is the only part of Europe that does not have climate change legislation.

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The Northern Ireland Assembly has not yet passed its own legislation, unlike the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. However, there is UK climate-related legislation

Explainer

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Health

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Peace

Comparing suicide statistics
24 August 2021

EXPLAINER: Comparing how deaths by suicide are measured across the UK and Ireland

During the pandemic, there have been claims that the number of deaths by suicide has increased, reflecting the acknowledged mental strain experienced by many. FactCheckNI

Explainer

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Health

COVID-19 vaccinations: fertility and pregnancy
5 August 2021

EXPLAINER: How do COVID-19 vaccines impact fertility and pregnancy?

The issue of how COVID-19 vaccines may impact fertility and/or pregnancy continues to be live. Health Minister Robin Swann told the Stormont health committee on

Health

Is a quarter of Northern Ireland’s COVID-19 unvaccinated population unlikely to get jab?
2 August 2021

CLAIM: A quarter of Northern Ireland’s population that is unvaccinated for COVID-19 is unlikely to ever get the vaccine.

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A survey by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) reported that 24% of respondents who had not been vaccinated said that they were

Health

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News

Some suggestions when handling COVID-19 leaflets
30 July 2021
A number of leaflets about COVID-19 vaccines and their safety have been circulating in Northern Ireland. FactCheckNI has previously fact checked many of these claims.

Explainer

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Health

Pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines
28 July 2021

Explaining how guidance regarding vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy has changed as new research and evidence has emerged

On 16 April 2021, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that all pregnant people should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine at the same

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Health

COVID-19 vaccines and aborted fetuses
27 July 2021

Concerns have been expressed on social media that COVID-19 vaccines are made from aborted fetuses, and some people object to the vaccines on religious and ethical grounds.

UPDATE: This article was updated on 27 July 2021, in response to a query about whether an mRNA vaccine by CureVac uses fetal cell lines

Explainer

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Health

Lateral flow device tests for COVID-19
9 July 2021

Lateral flow tests: their use, false positives and false negatives

Two biological tests are being used in the UK to control the spread of COVID-19: (1) the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, or PCR)

Health

Is the Red Cross refusing blood donations from anyone who has received a COVID-19 vaccination?
27 May 2021

CLAIM: The Red Cross is refusing blood donations from anyone who has received a vaccination for COVID.

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INACCURATE

The claim is not accurate. The British Red Cross does not collect or supply blood in the UK. The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service states