Like many hearing this claim for the first time, I was indignant. “Microchips in our Vaccines?” What the… H-E-double hockey sticks? Ridiculous! Absurd! How could someone believe such nonsense?
But, as in all of my dealings with people who are skeptical of science and vaccines, after my initial and internal (never voiced out loud – this is very important) “that’s crazy” response, I try to look at where these people are coming from. What is it about this or that claim that could lead them to believe it is true? After all, the best lies have an ounce of truth. This is what makes them that much more believable.
Who believes this stuff?
Most people who are propagating this claim are are not involved in wing nut conspiracy groups. They are just regular people trying to make sense of a world that is currently senseless. Trying to grab some measure of control when the world feels out of control. They are probably reading these claims and taking them as truth, without spending the time to dig further before they hit that “share” or “retweet” button. Something in the claim rings true for them.
But if we have learned anything in the Internet Era, it is this… We can’t always believe what we read. Even legitimate news outlets get it wrong sometimes and people have agendas which can color how they report “the news”. Yes, it’s frustrating. Yes, it’s time consuming. But we HAVE to do the work of researching these claims to make sure we are not part of the problem in spreading falsehoods and misinformation.
Let’s all agree to investigate before we share, okay?
The claim…
“Bill Gates is going to put microchips in the COVID vaccine so they can track us.”
The reality…
Nope! Not true. And who is this “they”, anyway? “They” are getting a bad rap! But here’s where the claim began and what has people worried. Remember, most folks who believe this claim probably don’t even know where it comes from – they are just willy nilly sharing something they read. Please don’t do this. Investigate before you share. Share responsibly.
But first… can we just contemplate something for a minute?
Even though the guy has truckloads of money, isn’t it possible that Bill Gates could actually be a decent human being? Instead of squandering his money on endeavors aimed at only making more money (which helps no one but himself), he funds research to advance health, science and technology for the benefit of all. He promotes education and the development of infrastructure in parts of the world that others have left behind. Couldn’t he just be using his money to do good, without ulterior motive? Call me naïve, but I think there are still kind and decent humans out there – and I think Bill Gates is one of them.
Where does this claim even come from?
The Gates Foundation has supported research to develop technology aimed at better documenting and tracking (Uh oh. There’s that word.) vaccine administration in Third World countries. These are countries where there is often inadequate medical care and public health infrastructure to permit robust vaccine record keeping; where children routinely miss out on vaccines that can save their lives. Or even receive unnecessary duplicate vaccines because there is no documentation of what vaccines they were previously given.
Quantum Dots – NOT a microchip
The Quantum Dot technology uses dissolvable Microneedles to deliver a vaccine along with a sort of “tattoo” of near-infrared light-emitting micro-particles. These particles, invisible to the naked eye but visible by modified smartphone technology, could then be used to serve as an “on-person vaccination record”. To be clear, this is NOT a microchip. It is a “read only” technology. And please note – this technology is not currently in use. It is still under investigation.
Quantum dot vaccine delivery technology placing vaccine record “tattoo” in the skin. From Science Alert
Heck, this Quantum Dot technology might even be useful right here in the good old US of A. Does anybody still have that little yellow vaccine card they were given when their child was born? I don’t. And I can’t remember what I had for dinner yesterday, let alone when my son had his 3rd DTaP vaccine!
Now this (see below) IS a microchip, or Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID).
Size of a Radio-frequency Identification Device. Taken from The Guardian
This technology has been used for years as a way to track our pets if they get lost. It is about the size of a grain of rice. Believe me, you’d see this sucker floating around in your vaccine (and so would your medical provider, who would then refuse to give it to you). Now, in case you are still skeptical and are thinking “surely they (there’s that “they” again) are making smaller microchips”, the smallest microchip was developed by IBM and is the size of a grain of salt (see below). Again, you would see this in your vaccine.
The smallest microchip currently available – the size of a grain of salt. From Interesting Engineering
Vaccination mapping for a pandemic world
The second thing possibly spurring this particular conspiracy theory is a vaccine administration device under development (an alternative to the traditional syringe) that is pre-filled with a vaccine and microchipped under the device label. Translation… the microchip is on the OUTSIDE of the device, NOT INSIDE the vaccine. This would allow scientists and public health officials to track the location the vaccine was given, creating a “vaccine map” to monitor the geography of vaccination efforts. It is being developed by a company called Apiject, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, to provide single use, rapidly scalable vaccine delivery technology for use when a COVID vaccine finally becomes available.
Is a coordinated scheme such as this even possible?
Now, if this doesn’t convince you, let’s just think some more about the claim and it’s feasibility. Vaccine regulation and oversight involve NUMEROUS organizations.
Organizations involved in vaccine oversight. From Let’s Talk Vaccines: A Clinician’s Guide to Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Saving Lives
So, not only would this “microchips in our vaccines” endeavor mean that ALL of the leadership of these organizations was in agreement and conspiring together (when have you known large organizations to agree on much of anything?), but every doctor, advanced practice provider, nurse, medical assistant, public health provider, and pharmacist was also in on this trickery. Seriously. Arranging this grand of a worldwide hoodwink would be impossible. It is inconceivable.
Meme from the movie, The Princess Bride. From Pinterest
So, to sum up…
1. There is some amazing new technology out there that will allow much improved vaccine record keeping in Third World countries.
2. There may be a microchip someday ON your vaccine container to map where vaccines are given but there will be no microchip placed IN your vaccine.
3. Bill Gates is most likely a really decent human being.
4. We all agree to investigate claims and sources before we “share” and “retweet”.
5. No one is tracking you through your vaccines… Now your cell phone, that might be another matter!
That’s some wonderful news that the Microchips inside the vaccine theory was proven to be false. That means I have less to worry about as far as the vaccine & the conspiracy theories behind them are concerned. ????
Thank you for this info. Most of the microchip conspiracies I have heard comes from pastors telling congregations that the vaccine contains a microchip. Placed between the thumb and finger. They call it the “Mark of the Beast”. Live in the Baptist South. Try to point out that they could be scaring people , not take vaccine, and ultimately causing people to die. Yes they need to read about the vaccine before they influence any group of people.
Wow! Fascinating. Wouldn’t a person notice if someone was injecting something between their thumb and their index finger? Not a usual spot for immunizing. How do we get these folks, who carry so much sway with their congregations, to learn the truth and share facts, not fear?
The micro dot is also a concern, because in the Bible it does say there will be a mark on the hand or forehead. It doesn’t say a smart phone will only be able to read it. lol. But it’s good to see that they are saying, (note I’m still not sure truth is in the air), that this is not the technology that will be used. But, yes, this is the one I was worried about.
My daughter will be concerned that they use aborted babies in the vaccines, and we should all be concerned about the chemicals in the vaccines. Which are two of the reasons people refuse regular vaccines, especially after watching friends with special needs children deal with life after a particularly bad experience involving a vaccine. (That is their belief, and who am i to judge, even though there are some childhood illnesses that happen at certain ages regardless of vaccines, and just show their horrid heads at the times vaccines are given, which makes me even wonder if the vaccine exacerbated or started up a gene they carried).
So there you have it. Even after an exhaustive discovery article, I am still not sure, and with real reason, though I’m sure the article author would not think so.
Please read this post (https://gretchenlasallemd.com/blowing-the-whistle-on-anti-vax-false-claims-part-1/) as it addresses your (and your daughter’s) other listed concerns – I hope this helps in your decision making! Vaccines are safe and effective and, I truly believe, one of the best things we can do to protect our health and the health of our loved ones.
Thank you for this.
You have given a list of other organisations that would have to be involved in this conspiracy in the USA.
If you think that is implausible, bear in mind. You have to include just about every country and certainly every other developed country in the world to be part of this plot. The original conspiracy makes it part of a ‘New world order’
Imagine that. Despite all the wars and fallings outs, antagonism and competition between nations, they were able to get together and hatch this plan to label us all.
Is that right?!
My brother started having concerns about vaccines. I warned him that ‘no ‘conspiracy theory on its own can hold water’ That was a few yeas ago. Now he is a strong believer in the ‘Deep state’, New world order run by the Rothchild’s, 5G and all the rest. It is terribly sad. He cannot help but try to inform everybody he meets.
So glad to have the straight goods on a pretty believable concept. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Regardless of the content of this article, I wish EVERYONE would take your advice regarding “thinking for themselves and doing some research before believing and forwarding ANY claims.” (paraphrased of course) Red, Blue, or Purple everyone should think for themselves, and stop wholesale believing everything their favorite form of media tells them.
You just hit the nail on the head! Thanks for sharing
I’m with you. And still uncertain.
Vaccines in general or COVID in particular? Is it this issue or another. Looking for people’s concerns so I can address them in a blog post so… lay it on me!
First, fix this article; chips aren’t used to TRACK our pets. They’re used to identify our pets in a very close-up, in the moment way. RFID doesn’t work as a tracker because the world would need to be peppered with sensors that are constantly within inches (at max) to an RFID reactive chip.
The science – the factual science – has never held up to microtrackers.
Now, if you stand there someone scans you – again, within an inch or two – of your whole body, then an RFID chip *might* be useful to someone.
And at the end of the day, I have one simple question for everyone believing the conspiracy theories…
“To what end.”
I’ve never had anyone give me an answer that holds up beyond three “to what end” questions.
“They want to chip us.”
“To what end?”
“So they can follow us”
“To what end?”
“So they know where we are”
“To what end?”
“uh…” O_O <– the inevitable blank stare
Every single time. Every one.
Thanks for the clarification. Yes, to “identify” our pets would be a clearer description.