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# Califf Combats Misinformation with 'Rumor Control' Page
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/califf-combats-misinformation-with-rumor-control-page/
- Published: 2022-08-10T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T17:55:19.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5152485

Combatting misinformation is a top priority for FDA and commissioner **Robert Califf**, and in addressing this the agency has launched a new Web page dedicated to stopping rumors from spreading. The “Rumor Control” page encourages the public to not believe rumors, not pass them along, and get information from trusted sources like FDA and other government agencies.

Califf [recently addressed](https://www.fdaweb.com/califf-says-evidence-generation-is-mediocre-at-best/) the Alliance for A Stronger FDA and said: “We’re losing the battle on misinformation. Now, it's not just an FDA issue. It’s a science issue in general, and an issue for all other federal agencies and clinical practices that people are being distracted by misinformation and disinformation.”

Before rejoining FDA, Califf spent considerable time at Google working to understand misinformation because it became clear that it was a growing issue. “We know a lot about misinformation,” he said. “We know how it’s generated. We know how it spreads. It really is a fact that for the most part misinformation travels faster and further than truthful information. I haven’t found a single expert, and I’ve had access to all of them, who has a solution to the problem that they think will work at this point, and we are losing that battle.” As evidence, he said misinformation has contributed to the U.S. ranking 67th in the world in terms of Covid vaccination status, and “most Americans should be mystified how that can be the case.”

Califf said all federal partners are interested in helping develop a strategy to deal with misinformation, but the federal government alone cannot solve the problem. “There’s too much mistrust already in the government,” he said. “We have a significant and very important role to play but we need all of you to be activated. We need a network of people who are committed to the promulgation of reliable, truthful information. And remember that the best antidote to someone who has been misled by information is an interaction with another human being that they trust, like physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and teachers.”

To address some of the misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines that is circulating, FDA’s Rumor Control page attempts to tackle these head on. For example, it said the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine does not contain pesticides. It also stated that none of the FDA-approved or authorized Covid-19 vaccines can cause monkeypox, nor will they cause Covid-19 because they do not contain live viruses.