Doctor Who Spread Fake News About COVID-19 Vaccine Dies Of The Virus

A doctor in Twin Cities who spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation has died of the virus, according to a report.

Dr. Christopher Foley, 71, was a physician in Vadnais Heights who died of COVID-19 complications in October. Logan, the doctor’s son, said his father was unvaccinated.

Foley trained in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota and had a passion for “taking care of other people” through natural medicine, his son told MPR News.

However, Foley promoted misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. In several blog posts uploaded on his practice’s website over the past year, Foley claimed mask-wearing was “dangerous.”

“For the healthy population masks outside are basically unnecessary and useless insofar as offering protection for the wearer or anyone around them,” he wrote in a blog post titled, “Time to unmask.”

In a separate blog post, Foley had promoted Ivermectin as a proven treatment against COVID-19. He noted that he prescribed the drug to his patients even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised against it.

The 71-year-old doctor had also reposted claims made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. where he accused Microsoft founder Bill Gates of planning the mass eviction of vaccine skeptics from social media platforms. Kennedy has been vocal about his opposition to the vaccines. He has since been banned from social media.

It is unclear whether Foley’s stance on the virus and vaccines harmed his patients. During his funeral, Logan claimed his father had helped 50 people to recover from their COVID-19 infection.

Vaccine misinformation has continued to proliferate across the U.S. A new public opinion data from Kaiser Family Foundation’s Vaccine Monitor revealed that more than 78% of American adults surveyed believed at least one of eight COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories.

The poll also found that 64% of unvaccinated adults believe or are unsure about at least four of the eight false vaccine statements. In comparison, only 19% of vaccinated adults believe or are unsure about half of the eight false theories.

Along party lines, 46% of Republicans said they were unsure about at least four or more misstatements about COVID-19, compared to 14% of Democrats.