The pseudoscientific demonstration of “vaccine magnetization” on the floor of Congress reconstructs false narratives that have already caused damage around the world.
A video recorded during a day organized at the National Congress once again highlighted anti-vaccine theories that science has been debunking for decades. In the recording, which went viral, an announcer assures the audience: “This is not skin oil, ladies and gentlemen… We call it a magnet.”
A shirtless man appears on stage, supposedly to show that various metal objects are stuck to his body, and attributes this alleged “human magnetism” to his Covid vaccination four or five years ago. Not only does this explanation lack scientific support, it contradicts all the evidence accumulated around the world about the composition and action of vaccines.
The six-hour event was organized by Chaco actor Marilou Quiroz. The keynote speaker was Lorena DiBlasi, a biotechnology graduate from Conisett, who led the demonstration in a tone that combined suspense, mystery and uncertain statements, creating an atmosphere more like illusion than scientific publishing.
The scene — in the room of one of the country’s most important institutional buildings — sparked an immediate social and political reaction. It reopened a key debate: What is the impact of spreading anti-vaccine messages in a country suffering from low coverage and an increase in preventable diseases?
Scientific interest
In the face of criticism, Queiroz denied in interviews that the meeting was anti-vaccine. He said he seeks to “debate freely” about the effects of doses and advocate for a plurality of voices. But specialists warn that “arguing” about facts proven by decades of scientific evidence is not an exercise of freedom, but rather a way to amplify false information that can lead to risky decisions for the population.
Meanwhile, in another room of Congress, at the same time as the controversial event, there was a meeting called by the science and health committees to analyze a pressing problem: vaccination coverage has been declining for years, and in 2024 it will reach the worst levels ever recorded.
Participating in this meeting was Daniela Hosbauer, principal researcher at Conecit, professor at the National University of La Plata, member of the National Committee on Immunization (CoNaIn) and an authority on vaccinology. Hosbourg described the anti-vaccine law as “irresponsible communication” and warned of the direct impact of this type of messaging on public health.
Decrease in coverage and return of diseases
According to official data, less than half of 5-year-olds received mandatory boosters before entering primary school, an unprecedented threshold that leaves thousands of children vulnerable to controlled diseases.
The consequences have already been observed:
– Measles, a highly contagious disease, has been recorded again in different areas of the country.
– Pertussis (whooping cough) has led to a significant increase in the number of cases and has already caused seven deaths in 2024, despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine.
The deterioration in coverage cannot be explained by a single factor. But Hosbourg emphasized that the circulation of false information has a decisive weight, especially when it comes from institutional environments or spreads unevenly in the media and networks.
How anti-vaccine myths spread
The researcher explained that the myth of “magnetism” and the supposed presence of “55 metals” in vaccines comes from poorly designed studies, not subject to peer review, or published in journals without scientific standards. “The methods used were so sensitive that they would have produced similar results even when analyzing common objects. No serious conclusions can be drawn from these works,” he noted.
He also pointed to the emblematic case of British physician Andrew Wakefield, who in 1998 published a study linking vaccines and autism. The work was withdrawn and fraud, conflict of interest and data manipulation were proven. Wakefield lost his license plate. However, its publication gave rise to the modern anti-vaccine movement and continues to cause harm today.
“This type of misinformation has a huge impact,” Hosbauer explained. “When communication is not based on evidence, fears are created that lead to bad decisions. These decisions have real consequences: more patients, more outbreaks, more deaths.”
Vaccines: a tool that saves lives
Given the prevalence of unsupported stories, the scientific evidence is compelling. Over the past 50 years, vaccines against 14 pathogens have prevented:
– 154 million deaths in the world.
– Saving 6 lives per minute, every day, for half a century.
– There is no other health intervention that has a similar effect.
No drug has no risk, Hosbauer explained, because the population is diverse and can react differently depending on previous illnesses. But he stressed that vaccines are safe and that “the benefit infinitely outweighs any risk.”
It does not cause autism, it does not cause infertility, it does not cause diabetes, it does not cause magnetism or physical changes. It generates immunity, prevents serious complications and protects the most vulnerable groups.
Institutional risk
The Congress episode isn’t just a running joke. For specialists, the real danger is institutional: when the state sphere legitimizes false or pseudoscientific narratives, social trust in vaccines is weakened and a key public health tool is put under surveillance.
The decline in vaccine coverage shows that the damage has already begun. Science warns that if these narratives continue to spread irresponsibly, the country will face more outbreaks, more hospitalizations, and more preventable deaths.
In contexts like the current one, the epidemiological principle becomes clearer than ever: no one can be saved alone. Vaccines yes.