Pop star Ian Brown’s anti-vaxx Japanese blood conspiracy theory debunked
Pop star Ian Brown’s claim that all Japanese citizens who have had a Covid vaccinated cannot give blood has been debunked.
Full Fact, a UK independent fact-checking organisation, has revealed how the conspiracy theory pedalled by The Stone Roses’ lead singer is false.
The 58-year-old British musician last month tweeted: “If the jabs are so safe, why has Japan stopped anybody who has had one from giving blood?”
Brown has been an outspoken critic of Covid vaccines, vaccine passports, face masks and other measures brought in to prevent the spread of the virus.
Read: Country with one of world’s highest vaccine rates battling record Covid outbreak
His anti-vaxx tweet appears to be based on a conspiracy theory that surfaced in early May in the US, according to Full Fact.
US site FactCheck.org has already disproven the original claims, which have been circulating on social media platforms like Facebook.
Hitoshi Hatta, spokesperson for the Japanese Embassy in Washington DC, told the organisation that people in Japan, where only the Pfizer vaccine is currently authorised, were only restricted from donating blood within 48 hours after getting the jab.
This delay was not related to the vaccine’s safety but introduced to give people time to recover from any side effects, he added.
Full Fact also found that a Google translation of Japanese Red Cross guidance published at the end of April supports Hatta's rebuttle of the claims.
It reads: “Blood donation is not possible for 48 hours after RNA vaccination including RNA vaccine...
“You can donate blood after the above period for both the first and second inoculations.”
In England, people who have been vaccinated must wait even longer before they give blood – a seven-day wait after the jab.
If they experience any side effects, they must wait 28 days after they’re recovered.
This is not the first time Brown has shared Covid conspiracy theories with the public.
During the pandemic, he's been vocal about his opposition to coronavirus mitigation measures, releasing a new track called Little Seed Big Tree that questioned vaccines and lockdowns.
Lyrics include "false vaccine" and "plan to chip us all, to have complete control" – a conspiracy theory that has repeatedly been debunked.
It came after he tweeted: "No lockdown, no tests, no tracks, no masks, no vax."
In March, he announced he was pulling out of headlining Neighbourhood Weekender festival in Warrington in September over his refusal to play events where audiences must prove they’ve been vaccinated to attend.
Officials from the festival tweeted to say they would "comply with conditions" set out by the government through the local authority when the gates open.
"We are working hard with other festival organisers and look forward to a safe return to open-air events this summer."
Yahoo has sought to contact Brown's representatives for comment.
