Fauci says there is "no evidence" to support Nicki Minaj's suggestion that the COVID vaccine causes impotency
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has debunked a viral tweet from rapper Nicki Minaj that suggested the COVID-19 vaccine could cause reproductive issues. Minaj, who has over 22 million Twitter followers, sparked controversy Monday for a series of tweets she posted about the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of the Met Gala.
"They want you to get vaccinated for the Met," the 38-year-old wrote. "if I get vaccinated it won't for the Met. It'll be once I feel I've done enough research. I'm working on that now. In the meantime my loves, be safe. Wear the mask with 2 strings that grips your head & face. Not that loose one"
She later clarified that she was skipping the gala because of her young child — who was born last September — not because of the vaccine requirement. But Minaj posted another tweet about her cousin's friend in Trinidad who allegedly experienced impotency after getting the jab, and it prompted a wide response from both fans and health officials.
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Fauci was asked if the COVID vaccine could cause any reproductive issues in men or women. Fauci replied, "The answer to that is a resounding no."
"There's no evidence that it happens, nor is there any mechanistic reason to imagine that it would happen," he said.
Fauci appeared on the show to discuss vaccine efforts and was speaking on vaccine skepticism in Black and Hispanic communities, something he continues to blame on misinformation.
"There's a lot of misinformation, mostly on social media, and the only way we know to counter mis- and disinformation is to provide a lot of correct information," Fauci said. "To essentially debunk these kinds of claims, which may be innocent on her part. I'm not blaming her for anything, but she should be thinking twice about propagating information that really has no basis."
Dr. Anthony Fauci says Covid-19 vaccine approval for children under the age of 12 is "going to be some time in the fall."
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) September 14, 2021
"There will be enough data to apply with an emergency use authorization, both by Pfizer, a little bit later by Moderna." pic.twitter.com/Wr1EqnDIUL
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also debunked the myth in a memo posted to its website in August. "There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men," the guidance said.
In her Twitter thread, Minaj continued to assert that she was not opposed to the vaccine and would most likely be vaccinated when she had completed more research and was ready to go on tour.
"I know babe. A lot of countries won't let ppl work w/o the vaccine," she tweeted in response to a fan who claimed they got a vaccine for work. "I'd def recommend they get the vaccine. They have to feed their families. I'm sure I'll b vaccinated as well cuz I have to go on tour, etc."
Minaj also praised a fan who received the vaccine and did not experience any side effects: "That's amazing babe. This is the norm."
Over 75.8% of adults in the United States have been at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, and a total of 179.3 million people are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. But data shows African American and Hispanic communities are still less vaccinated, and therefore more likely to die from COVID-19, than their White counterparts, according to the CDC.
Fauci and other medical leaders are asking "trusted messengers," including clergy, teachers, and politicians, to answer questions people in their communities have about the vaccine and hopefully encourage them to get vaccinated.
"I believe we are making progress," Fauci said. "We're not where we want to be with regards to the number of African Americans and Hispanics vaccinated, but we're doing better than we were before."
On Wednesday afternoon, Minaj said she'd accepted an invitation to go to the White House.
"The White House has invited me & I think it's a step in the right direction," she tweeted. "Yes, I'm going. I'll be dressed in all pink like Legally Blonde so they know I mean business. I'll ask questions on behalf of the ppl who have been made fun of for simply being human. #BallGate day 3."
In a statement to CBS News, a White House official said: "As we have with others, we offered a call with Nicki Minaj and one of our doctors to answer questions she has about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine."
Following Wednesday's slew of tweets, Minaj posted on her Instagram stories that Twitter restricted her ability to tweet.
"I'm in Twitter jail y'all," Minaj wrote. "They didn't like what I was saying over there on that block."
A Twitter spokesperson told CBS News in a statement that Twitter "did not take any enforcement action" on Minaj's account. The company has suspended several major figures in the past for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
As of Wednesday night, Minaj's account was still active.