BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7 Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate
Student Name
Capella University
BIO FPX 1000 Human Biology
Prof. Name
Date
Media and Internet:
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been the subject of significant discussion and misinformation online. Evidence from peer-reviewed research and public health organizations indicates that COVID-19 vaccination can help protect pregnant individuals from severe illness and does not appear to increase the risk of miscarriage or negatively affect fertility. Because social media platforms can spread both accurate and inaccurate claims, it is important to evaluate health information using reliable, evidence-based sources. This topic is particularly relevant to BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7 Homework: Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate, which examines how information found online can be evaluated for credibility and accuracy.
Why COVID-19 Vaccine Information During Pregnancy Matters
Pregnancy can change the body’s immune and physiological responses, which may increase the risk of complications from certain respiratory infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, questions emerged about whether vaccination was safe for pregnant individuals, whether it could affect fertility, and whether it might increase the risk of pregnancy loss.
Research published during the pandemic helped address many of these concerns. Studies examining COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy found no evidence that vaccination negatively affected important pregnancy outcomes. At the same time, COVID-19 infection itself was associated with increased risks of severe maternal illness and certain adverse pregnancy outcomes (Wang et al., 2021).
For this reason, information about vaccination during pregnancy should be based on clinical research, public health guidance, and peer-reviewed evidence rather than unverified social media posts.
Evidence From Research on COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy
One important source is the study “COVID-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy: Coverage and Safety,” which examined vaccination among pregnant individuals and evaluated potential effects on pregnancy outcomes. The study found that vaccination was not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and supported the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy (Blakeway et al., 2021).
The findings are particularly useful when evaluating online claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause pregnancy complications. Rather than relying on individual anecdotes or social media discussions, researchers can examine outcomes across larger groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Research has also examined concerns about fertility. Available evidence has not demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination causes infertility. This distinction is important because misinformation about fertility can influence individuals who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Evaluating the Credibility of Health Information
When researching COVID-19 vaccination, the credibility of the source is just as important as the information itself. The CRAAP Test is one framework that can be used to evaluate online information. CRAAP stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
A credible source should provide current information, clearly identify its authors or organization, support claims with evidence, and explain its purpose. Peer-reviewed medical research and information published by recognized public health organizations generally provide stronger evidence than anonymous social media posts.
The CDC is an example of a government public health organization that publishes evidence-based information about vaccination and pregnancy. Government and academic sources can be cross-checked against peer-reviewed research to determine whether claims are supported by scientific evidence.
Reddit and the Spread of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
Reddit is a social news and discussion platform where users can share information, opinions, personal experiences, and links. Although it can be useful for discovering different perspectives, information posted by individual users is not automatically medically verified.
This creates a potential problem when discussing complex health issues such as COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. A personal experience may be genuine, but it does not establish that the same outcome will occur in other people. Similarly, repeated claims within an online community do not necessarily make those claims scientifically accurate.
When encountering a vaccination claim on Reddit or another social media platform, users should consider:
- Who created the information?
- Is the source identified and qualified?
- Does the claim cite peer-reviewed research?
- Is the research current and relevant?
- Do reputable medical organizations report similar findings?
- Does the information distinguish scientific evidence from personal opinion?
These questions can help readers distinguish evidence-based health information from unsupported claims.
What Research Shows About COVID-19 and Pregnancy
Research conducted during the pandemic showed that COVID-19 infection can create additional health risks during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals with COVID-19 may face a higher risk of severe illness compared with nonpregnant individuals of similar age. Some studies also identified associations between COVID-19 infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes (Wang et al., 2021; Wei et al., 2021).
These findings are important because discussions about vaccination should consider both potential benefits and risks. Focusing only on claims about vaccine risks without considering the documented risks associated with COVID-19 infection provides an incomplete picture.
COVID-19 vaccination was therefore investigated as one approach to reducing the risk of severe disease during pregnancy. Public health recommendations have generally emphasized vaccination for pregnant individuals and those planning pregnancy, based on accumulating safety and effectiveness evidence.
Prevention Strategies During Pregnancy
Vaccination is only one component of reducing the risk of respiratory infection. General infection-prevention practices can also help reduce exposure to viruses.
Depending on public health guidance and individual circumstances, preventive strategies may include good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, improving indoor ventilation, and avoiding crowded settings when respiratory viruses are circulating.
Healthy behaviors and appropriate prenatal care are also important for maintaining overall health during pregnancy. Individuals with questions about vaccination or infection prevention should discuss their circumstances with a qualified healthcare professional.
How to Determine Whether Information Is Accurate
The information used for BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7: Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate should be evaluated systematically rather than accepted based solely on where it appears online.
Peer-reviewed journal articles provide an important foundation because research findings are evaluated through an established scholarly review process. Government health agencies can provide additional information about vaccination recommendations, disease prevention, and public health guidance.
Using multiple reliable sources is especially important when researching controversial or frequently misunderstood health topics. If several independent, reputable sources report consistent findings, the information has stronger support than a claim appearing only on an unverified social media account.
Using the CRAAP Test to Evaluate COVID-19 Information
The CRAAP Test provides a practical method for determining whether online information should be considered reliable. Its five components can be applied to COVID-19 vaccine information:
Currency: Determine when the information was published or updated and whether newer evidence is available.
Relevance: Consider whether the information directly addresses pregnancy, vaccination, fertility, or the specific health question being investigated.
Authority: Identify the author, researchers, institution, or organization responsible for the information.
Accuracy: Look for citations, research evidence, peer-reviewed studies, and agreement with other reliable sources.
Purpose: Determine whether the content is intended to educate, inform, sell something, persuade readers, or promote a particular viewpoint.
Using these criteria can help students and healthcare professionals identify stronger sources and avoid relying on unsupported online claims.
Key Takeaways About COVID-19 Vaccination and Pregnancy
The available research provides several important conclusions. COVID-19 infection can pose serious health risks during pregnancy, while research evaluating vaccination has not demonstrated an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with COVID-19 vaccination (Blakeway et al., 2021; Wei et al., 2021).
Misinformation can make these issues more difficult to understand, particularly when social media posts present personal experiences as if they were scientific evidence. Reliable information should therefore be checked against peer-reviewed research and established public health organizations.
For BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7 Homework: Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate, evaluating the quality of information is as important as finding information. Applying a structured source-evaluation method such as the CRAAP Test can help determine whether a health claim is supported by credible evidence.
Conclusion
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has generated considerable discussion online, including inaccurate claims about miscarriage, fertility, and pregnancy safety. Research published during the pandemic provides evidence that can be used to evaluate these claims more objectively. Studies have not found evidence that COVID-19 vaccination negatively affects fertility or major pregnancy outcomes, while COVID-19 infection itself has been associated with increased risks for pregnant individuals.
Social media platforms such as Reddit can provide access to personal experiences and discussions, but their content should not automatically be treated as medically verified. Students researching BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7 Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate can improve the reliability of their work by comparing online claims with peer-reviewed research, government health information, and other authoritative sources.
Ultimately, evaluating the author, evidence, publication date, purpose, and supporting research can help readers distinguish accurate health information from misinformation.
References
Abrams, S., Delf, L., Drummond, R., & Kelly, K. (2022). The CRAAP Test. Open Oregon State. https://open.oregonstate.education/goodargument/chapter/craap-test/
Blakeway, H., Prasad, S., Kalafat, E., Heath, P. T., Ladhani, S. N., Le Doare, K., Magee, L. A., O’Brien, P., Rezvani, A., von Dadelszen, P., & Khalil, A. (2021). COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy: Coverage and safety. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.007
Esparrago-Kalidas, A. J. (2021). The effectiveness of CRAAP test in evaluating credibility of sources. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 1(2), 1–14. https://i-jte.org/index.php/journal/article/view/25
Lotfi, M., Hamblin, M. R., & Rezaei, N. (2020). COVID-19: Transmission, prevention, and potential therapeutic opportunities. Clinica Chimica Acta, 508, 254–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.044
BIO FPX 1000 Assessment 7 Media and Internet: Accurate vs Inaccurate
Wang, C.-L., Liu, Y.-Y., Wu, C.-H., Wang, C.-Y., Wang, C.-H., & Long, C.-Y. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 18(3), 763–767. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.49923
Wang, P.-H., Lee, W.-L., Yang, S.-T., Tsui, K.-H., Chang, C.-C., & Lee, F.-K. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy: Part I. Clinical presentations and untoward outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, 84(9), 813–820. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000595
Wei, S. Q., Bilodeau-Bertrand, M., Liu, S., & Auger, N. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ, 193(16), E540–E548. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.202604