“BEWARE OF FAKE NEWS! " A press release from the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital began with this warning cry on August 17, 2021 on its Facebook page. The Roman institution, which belongs to the Holy See, explains that it received reports concerning "totally false" information pertaining to COVID vaccines circulating on social networks.
"The fake news item reports the deaths of three boys who are believed to have died in our hospital due to the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine," the statement said. Since this rumor "is obviously completely devoid of any foundation," the establishment deplores the fact that the dissemination of this lie remains. "We have already reported what happened and the profiles involved to Facebook while alerting our legal office," we read.
Bambino Gesù officials assure that "no significant adverse events were observed in our hospital after administration of the vaccine." And to repeat that vaccination remains "the most effective and safest weapon to also protect children from the most serious consequences of the novel Coronavirus."
The Vatican got involved in the COVID-19 vaccination effort very early on, advocating in particular for the rapid and massive dissemination of the vaccine around the world. In January 2021, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received their first dose; the second in early February.
At the instigation of the Argentine pontiff, a vaccination center was set up in the Vatican. According to figures from the Italian region of Lazio, 12,734 people have been vaccinated by Vatican City so far.
