The claim: Post implies COVID-19 vaccine contributed to sports writer’s death
A Jan. 20 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows the headlines of two articles about the late Daily Mail tennis correspondent Mike Dickson.
The first headline, from a February 2022 column by Dickson, reads, “MIKE DICKSON: Novak Djokovic could ruin his chances of becoming the GOAT by refusing to take the vaccine… it is a strange hill to die on for a player who is so desperate to be loved.”
The second headline, from a January article in the Telegraph, reads, “Daily Mail tennis correspondent Mike Dickson collapses and dies at Australian Open.”
There are red lines linking words and phrases in the two headlines, including a line connecting the word “vaccine” to the phrase “collapses and dies.”
“Oh look, another coincidence,” the post’s caption reads.
Some social media users seemed to believe the post was evidence the COVID-19 vaccine played a role in Dickson’s death.
“#deathjab,” reads one comment.
The Instagram post was liked nearly 7,000 times in six days. The image was also shared widely on X, formerly Twitter.
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Our rating: Missing context
The implied claim here is wrong. As of Jan. 26, Dickson’s cause of death has not been announced. There are no credible reports of the COVID-19 vaccine contributing to his death.
No evidence COVID-19 vaccine linked to tennis journalist’s death
Dickson died while covering the 2024 Australian Open, according to a Jan. 17 statement from his family and multiple news organizations. He was 59 years old and had worked for the Daily Mail since 1990.
His family, in a joint message posted on Dickson’s X account, said he collapsed and died while in the country for the tennis tournament. But as of Jan. 26, neither Dickson’s family nor his newspaper have commented on his cause of death. There are no credible news reports about the COVID-19 vaccine contributing to his death.
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This has not stopped some social media users from sharing the unsubstantiated suggestion that his death was related to the vaccine. Some posts refer to Dickson’s criticism of tennis star Novak Djokovic’s decision not to be vaccinated, a choice that led to Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in 2022 on health-safety grounds.
USA TODAY has debunked numerous claims erroneously connecting the deaths of other public figures with the COVID-19 vaccine, including claims falsely linking the shot to the deaths of country singer Jake Flint and baseball player Hank Aaron.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adverse reactions, including death, are rare. The CDC and other federal agencies continue to monitor the safety of the vaccines, and healthcare providers are required to report any death after a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Instagram user who shared the image did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Daily Mail did not provide a comment.
PolitiFact also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- Daily Mail, Jan. 17, Goodbye Mr Wimbledon: Legendary Mail Sport tennis correspondent Mike Dickson dies aged 59
- The Associated Press, Jan. 17, British tennis writer Mike Dickson dies in Melbourne while covering the Australian Open
- UPI, Jan. 17, Tennis writer Mike Dickson, 59, dies at Australian Open
- Mike Dickson (X account), Jan. 17, X post
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