Advertisement

Fact check: False claim that lid was on Boris Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine

The claim: Prime Minister Boris Johnson received a COVID-19 booster shot with the lid on

Leaders around the globe are advocating for vaccination against COVID-19. But a post on social media claims some are avoiding getting the shot themselves.

A Dec. 3 Instagram post shows a nurse administering an injection to United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a National Health Service COVID-19 vaccination site.

"Boris Johnson getting boosted today by a nurse without gloves on and a needle with the blue lid still on LMFAO," reads text in the post, which acquired more than 200 likes in a day.

Commenters on the post took that as evidence the prime minister didn't really receive the shot.

"Fake shot," one commenter wrote.

"Great acting!" wrote another.

Special access for subscribers! Click here to sign up for our fact-check text chat

But the claim is wrong. Images and videos show an un-capped needle entering Johnson's arm as he received his COVID-19 booster vaccine.

USA TODAY reached out to the Instagram user who shared the post for comment.

Johnson was vaccinated

While the vaccine needle isn't visible in the blurry photo posted to Instagram, other images and videos distinctly show it.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives his Booster Jab
Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives his Booster Jab

Photos published on Flickr by the prime minister's press office show the needle entering Johnson's arm. Videos published by British media also show the un-capped needle before, during and after his booster is administered.

The blue "lid" in the Instagram image may be a plastic safety covering on the syringe, which flips over the needle after use. Syringes have a safety mechanisms to protect medical workers and patients from needlestick injuries.

In a video published Dec. 2 on Twitter, Johnson shared that he received his booster shot.

"I’ve just got my booster jab from the brilliant (Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust) team," he wrote in the tweet. "When your turn comes, get your booster and ask your friends and family to do the same. Let’s not give the virus a second chance."

This isn't the first time misinformation has spread about a public figure's COVID-19 vaccine.

USA TODAY previously rated False a claim that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn't actually receive her shot because there was an orange cap on the needle. Full Fact, an independent fact-checking organization in the U.K., debunked a similar claim about London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The British prime minister's office declined to comment.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Johnson received a COVID-19 booster shot with the lid on. Images and videos show an un-capped needle entering Johnson's arm as he received his COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Lid wasn't on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's booster