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  • Flu Vaccine Ingredients Are Safe, Contrary to a Misleading Meme

    SciCheck Digest

    Influenza vaccines contain small amounts of various ingredients that allow them to work and keep them safe and long-lasting. A misleading meme suggestively lists more than two dozen substances it claims are in flu vaccines. But most are not present — and the ones that are aren’t dangerous.

    Full Story

    All vaccines contain tiny amounts of various ingredients, including the active ingredient, or antigen, which triggers the body to mount an immune response and produce antibodies. Some vaccines may also include stabilizers, adjuvants, preservatives and minuscule amounts of other ingredients used during their production. All of these components are safe in the concentrations used in vaccines, and many are either naturally present in our bodies or found in water, food or other products we ingest or use regularly. Manufacturers list the components of each vaccine on publicly available package inserts. 

    Seasonal influenza, or flu, vaccines have a “good safety record,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the benefits outweigh the risks. While the effectiveness of the shots varies each year, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others from the flu.

    There are different types of flu vaccines, with different production processes, doses and ways of administration, as we will explain. But all of them contain components of influenza viruses, which change every year to try to match the viruses that will be circulating during each season. All the 2023-2024 flu vaccines are quadrivalent, meaning they contain components of, and protect against, four influenza viruses, two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. Just as with all vaccines, to be effective and to remain potent and free of contamination, some flu vaccines contain adjuvants, stabilizers, preservatives or other residual byproducts. 

    But a viral meme that reads “FLU SHOT INGREDIENTS” lists many substances that are not present in any current flu vaccines, including “antifreeze,” “cow muscle tissue” and “monkey kidney cells.” When checking for the ingredients in databases compiled by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institute for Vaccine Safety, we found that only a fraction of the 27 listed in the meme are present, in very small quantities, in at least one influenza vaccine.

    A misleading meme circulating since 2020 claims flu vaccines include many substances that are not present in the vaccines.

    An earlier version of the meme, which circulated and was fact-checked by others in 2020, said the flu shot includes “some of these” ingredients. The words “some of these” were deleted in this version. The image provides no source for the information.    

    While the post doesn’t explicitly say the listed ingredients are dangerous, the implication is clear. “Demons and witches brew,” wrote an Instagram user when sharing it.

    Most of the listed ingredients — while not necessarily in flu vaccines — are present in other vaccines, or are part of the manufacturing process. But these have not been shown to be harmful.

    “There is no vaccine that includes everything on this list,” Dr. Kawsar R. Talaat, associate professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told us in a phone interview. “I think that they have gathered these ingredients and use different names for them in order to scare people as much as possible.”

    A Misleading List

    Two of the “ingredients” listed in the meme are “Human Embryonic (aborted baby) Lung Culture” and “Aborted Human Diploid Cell Cultures (WI-38 & MRC-5).” But as we’ve written, and as the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explains, vaccines do not contain fetal cells or tissues. Some vaccines use fetal cell lines to grow vaccine viruses. MRC-5 and WI-38 are two cell lines taken from lung tissue of two embryos aborted in the 1960s for the preparation of some vaccines. But none of the influenza vaccines available in the U.S. uses fetal cells for production. The viruses or viral proteins used to make flu vaccines are produced in chicken eggs or in non-human cell cultures. We’ll explain more of this process later.

    Similarly, while tiny amounts of aluminum are present in other vaccines as an adjuvant to boost the immune response — and has been safely used for decades — it’s not in any flu vaccines.

    Flu vaccines do not contain antifreeze either, as the meme incorrectly claims. The active ingredient of the antifreeze and coolant used in cars or vehicles is ethylene glycol, which is toxic, and isn’t used in any vaccine. Older formulations of the influenza vaccines used tiny amounts of polyethylene glycol, a product used in some cosmetics, skin conditioners and in laxative medicines used for constipation. Polyethylene glycol is nontoxic and very different from ethylene glycol. There is no polyethylene glycol in the current flu vaccines.

    Anyone can check the Johns Hopkins database or consult the package inserts to see that none of the current flu vaccines contains ethanol, aluminum dye or aluminum, any type of acetone, “monkey kidney cells” or Vero cells, “fetal cow serum” or bovine serum, barium, E. coli, “cow muscle tissue,” “DNA from pig circoviruses (PCV)”, “embryonic guinea pig cells,” human albumin (a protein naturally made in the liver), “Mueller’s media (containing cow extracts),” or dextrose (a type of sugar), as the meme incorrectly claims. 

    Some substances listed in the meme are present in some flu vaccines or other vaccines. But the quantities used are very small and safe.

    “Because chemical names can be unfamiliar and relative quantities of exposure are often central to their safety (i.e., ‘the dose makes the poison’), it is easy for people to become confused, concerned, or downright scared when they see a list like this,” Charlotte A. Moser, co-director of CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center, told us in an email.  

    Tiny amounts of certain detergents, for example, may be present in some flu vaccines, but these are better thought of as surfactants that keep the ingredients blended together.

    “Detergent can also be surfactant, if you want to use that term, which are things that help keep things into solutions,” Talaat told us. “So the bread from the grocery store, Oreos, Twinkies, they all have surfactant or detergent to make it homogenous.”

    “Most of the things that we use in the flu vaccine are things that are very common in other things that we encounter on a … daily basis,” Talaat added. They may sound scary when you put them in a list like this, she said, but they’re not. “The important thing is that flu vaccines, like the other vaccines that are available have been tested extensively, have been used in billions and billions of people over many years and are incredibly safe and protect us from the most severe influenza disease.”

    What’s in the Flu Vaccines

    As we said, the major components in the flu vaccines are the flu viruses or viral proteins used to prompt our bodies to make an immune response. 

    Most flu vaccines contain whole inactivated viruses. One, the FluMist nasal spray vaccine, uses weakened viruses. Some others use surface proteins from the viruses. None of them can cause the flu, since the viruses are either dead or too weak to replicate effectively to make us sick. 

    Vaccine manufacturers receive candidate vaccine viruses selected for a particular season and use different technologies to grow those viruses and make their vaccines. 

    Most flu vaccines are made by inoculating and growing viruses in chicken eggs. The fluid containing the viruses is then harvested from the eggs, and the viruses are purified and killed or weakened. Egg-based flu vaccines (Afluria, Fluad, Fluarix, FluLaval, Fluzone and FluMist) may contain traces of egg proteins, but people with an egg allergy can still get any of these vaccines, based on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Previously, the ACIP recommended people with severe egg allergy get their vaccine in a medical office, but starting this season, those measures are no longer recommended. 

    One of the flu vaccines (Flucelvax) is made by growing influenza viruses in cell culture, specifically Madin-Darby canine kidney, or MDCK, cells. The cells used to make this cell line were isolated in 1958 from the kidney of a cocker spaniel. To make the vaccine, manufacturers grow and collect the viruses, inactivate them, and then purify the antigens. Since the 2021-2022 season, this vaccine is egg-free. But it may contain very tiny amounts of MDCK cell DNA or protein.

    There is also a recombinant flu vaccine (Flublok) made up of just influenza surface proteins. The vaccine uses recombinant DNA technology to add the genes for each flu strain’s surface proteins to a baculovirus, a virus that infects insects. The “recombinant” baculovirus is then put into a cell line — one derived from cells of the fall armyworm, an insect related to moths, caterpillars and butterflies — to produce the proteins. The proteins are then extracted and purified. This flu vaccine is egg-free, but it may contain residual amounts of fall armyworm and baculovirus DNA and proteins from the manufacturing process.

    As we mentioned, the vaccines also may use stabilizers, preservatives or adjuvants so that they remain safe and effective. 

    Stabilizers are used to keep the antigen stable during shipping and storage. One of the stabilizers used in the nasal spray vaccine is porcine, or pig, gelatin. It’s worth noting that we consume gelatin made from cow and pigs in numerous food products, from gummy candies or marshmallows to wine or mints. Although the vaccine only contains 2 milligrams per dose (for reference, a teaspoon is equivalent to 5,000 mg), people with a severe allergic reaction to gelatin should get a different flu vaccine, as recommended by the CDC. As CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center explains, people who have severe allergic reactions to foods containing gelatin should avoid vaccines that contain gelatin.  

    Some vaccines also contain preservatives, added to prevent contamination. “Whereas stabilizers keep what’s supposed to be in the vial stable, preservatives keep what shouldn’t be in the vial out,” the CHOP website explains. This is important when a vial contains multiple doses because bacteria or other microbes could enter the vial and contaminate the contents.

    Three of the flu vaccines (Afluria, Fluzone and Flucelvax) use the preservative thimerosal, which contains ethylmercury, in multidose vials. Ethylmercury is a kind of mercury that is safer than methylmercury, which can be present in some fish and animals and can be toxic at high levels. Ethylmercury is less dangerous because it’s broken down and excreted faster from the body than methylmercury. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the amount of mercury contained in a vaccine is roughly the same amount contained in a 3 ounce can of tuna fish. The small amounts of thimerosal in vaccines have been shown not to be harmful. There is no link between thimerosal in vaccines and autism, as we’ve explained.

    Vaccines may also contain some leftover products from the manufacturing process. As explained by CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center, since the ingredients of the vaccine come from biological systems, it’s sometimes impossible to completely remove substances used during the process. Although most of the time the amounts that remain in the vials are insignificant, the substances still need to be listed. 

    Formaldehyde, which is mentioned in the meme, is one of them. This organic compound is used in vaccines to inactivate viruses, so they don’t replicate and make us sick. Formaldehyde is also produced naturally in our bodies, where it has a role in producing amino acids, and is also present in the environment and in food we eat. According to the FDA, the amount of formaldehyde “present in some vaccines is so small compared to the concentration that occurs naturally in the body that it does not pose a safety concern.”

    The agency says that, for example, in a newborn baby of 6 to 8 pounds, the amount of formaldehyde in their bodies is 50 to 70 times higher than the maximum amount they could receive from a singe dose of a vaccine or from vaccines administered over time. Repeated exposure to formaldehyde, mostly through breathing air containing the compound, is associated with cancer, but there is no evidence linking cancer to the small amounts of formaldehyde in some vaccines. 

    Some flu vaccines (Afluria, Flublok and Fluzone) may include chloride, or salt. Salts, often based on sodium and potassium, keep the pH balance and keep the active ingredients suspended, according to the University of Oxford’s Vaccine Knowledge Project. “These are common and harmless,” the organization says. 

    People with concerns about specific ingredients can ask their doctors and choose which of the nine flu vaccines offered this season is the best for them. The CDC says everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, with specific recommendations for each age group.

    Editor’s note: SciCheck’s articles providing accurate health information and correcting health misinformation are made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation has no control over FactCheck.org’s editorial decisions, and the views expressed in our articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation.

    Sources

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    Vaccine Ingredients. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Updated 18 Jul 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Components of Vaccines. Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Updated 6 Apr 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Package Inserts And Manufacturers For Some Us Licensed Vaccines And Immunoglobulins. Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Updated 31 Aug 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Flu Vaccine Safety Information. CDC. Updated 25 Aug 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Different Types of Flu Vaccines. CDC. Updated 31 Aug 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine. CDC. Updated 3 Nov 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Summary: ‘Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—United States, 2023-24.’ CDC. Updated 23 Aug 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    TABLE. Influenza vaccines — United States, 2023–24 influenza season* CDC. Updated 24 Aug 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine. CDC. Updated 25 Aug 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    “Flu Vaccine: What’s in the Vial?” CHOP. Nov 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023. 

    Reuters Staff. “Fact check: The flu vaccine does not include many of these supposed ingredients.” Reuters. 30 Oct 2020. 

    “Flu Shot Ingredients Includes Some of These — Or Do They?” I Speak of Dreams blog. 13 Nov 2020. 

    Talaat, Kawsar R. Associate professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Phone interview with FactCheck.org. 5 Oct 2023. 

    McDonald, Jessica. “COVID-19 Vaccines Don’t Contain Fetal Tissue.” FactCheck.org. 1 Jul 2022. 

    Vaccine Ingredients – Fetal Cells. CHOP. 21 Oct 2021. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    How Influenza (Flu) Vaccines Are Made. CDC. Updated 3 Nov 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    Ethylene Glycol. ChemicalSafetyFacts.org. Updated 14 Oct 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    Ethylene Glycol. PubChem. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    Dabaja, Amani, et al. “Polyethylene Glycol.” StatPearls. 8 May 2023. 

    Michelle, Meg. “Polyethylene Glycol Vs. Ethylene Glycol.” Sciencing. Updated 21 May 2018. 

    Moser, Charlotte A. CHOP. Email to FactCheck.org. 5 Oct 2023. 

    “Flu Vaccine: What’s in the Vial?” Parents PACK, CHOP. 10 Nov 2022. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines. CDC. Updated 16 Jun 2023. Accessed 9 Oct 2023.

    Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE): Safety of Influenza Vaccines for Persons with Egg Allergy. CDC, ACIP. 21 Aug 2023. 

    ACIP Evidence to Recommendations (EtR) Framework: Safety of Influenza Vaccines for Persons with Egg Allergy. CDC, ACIP. 10 Aug 2023. 

    Grohskopf, Lisa A. et al. “Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023–24 Influenza Season.” MMWR. 15 Aug 2023. 

    Cell-Based Flu Vaccines. CDC. 25 Aug 2023. 

    Fall armyworm. Featured Creatures. University of Florida. 

    Angermann, Marlena. “Not-So-Sweet Surprise: 15 Everyday Foods With Gelatin.” Utopia. 7 Sep 2022. 

    Pepin, Ivy. “What Is Gelatin Made Of? Is Gelatin Vegetarian?” Human League. 11 Jan 2023. 

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    Source

  • 49ers’ Brock Purdy has ‘fun story’ that Tom Brady’s watching

    SANTA CLARA — Fear not whether Brock Purdy gets enough credit for the 49ers’ 5-0 start and his comeback from elbow surgery.

    Just enjoy the show. That’s what Tom Brady is doing in retirement when watching his childhood team.

    “It’s kind of a fun story, and I hope it continues for him because he seems like he’s a really humble young man and he wants to go out there and do great things,” Brady said Monday on his SiriusXM “Let’s Go!” podcast with Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray.

    “The more you kind of have that chip on your shoulder like he does,” Brady continued, “and there were not quite the expectations, it’s nice to go out there and continue to prove people wrong.”

    Brady is the NFL’s authority figure on that. The San Mateo native was drafted No. 199 overall (sixth round) in 2000, then won seven Super Bowl titles before walking away, apparently for good, after last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Now Purdy is trying to do what Brady did: win a Super Bowl in his second season.

    Last Dec. 11, Purdy became the first rookie to win a starting debut against Brady, a 35-7 blowout at Levi’s Stadium. Purdy said that matchup still resonates, in terms of his relentless pursuit of points. The 49ers, who visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, have scored at least 30 points in each of their first five games, a franchise record.

    When Purdy entered December’s starting debut, he was determined to “make the most of every opportunity” with swift and impeccable decisions. “Or else, if I’m just giving the ball up to this guy (Brady), we may not even have a chance,” Purdy recalled Thursday.

    Not even a 28-0 halftime lead satisfied Purdy against Brady, whom he considers “obviously the best quarterback of all time.”

    “We were up by a couple of scores,” Purdy said, “and I still had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, ‘We cannot let off the pedal, because Tom Brady’s had all these comebacks in his career and in his life.’ I was always just, ‘One more, one more, one more,’ every drive, in terms of my mindset.”

    That remains his mindset. Purdy threw a career-high four touchdown passes in Sunday night’s 42-10 rout of the Dallas Cowboys.

    “He’s kind of under the radar, but he just goes about his job. And I think a lot of people can really respect that in a lot of different industries,” Brady added on his podcast. “You know, it’s nice to have people that can show up every day, put the team first, do what they’re asked to do and he’s done a good job of that. He’s really exceeding a lot of people’s expectations.”

    Seven months ago, Purdy came out of surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, an injury that derailed the 49ers in their NFC Championship Game loss at Philadelphia. Concerns about his comeback were quelled when he started throwing in June.

    “It looks good to me,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That was the neat thing about that injury, there’s lots of questions until he started throwing, which was three or four months,” Shanahan added. “But all the information on that injury is: Once he passed that area, as long as you brought him back at the right speed, most quarterbacks once it heals, it heals.”

    For Purdy’s sake, that right arm alone doesn’t have to curl the weight of the 49ers’ weekly expectations. He consistently acknowledges his star-studded support cast. So did Brady.

    “I played ’em last year and they’ve got a good team,” Brady said. “I played on a lot of great teams over the years, too, and what did we do? We controlled the line of scrimmage, we ran the ball well, we stopped the run. They rush the passer. They’ve been playing with leads. And I give Coach Shanahan a lot of credit, too, ’cause he has done a great job. And, you know, you don’t hear of guys like Brock Purdy until Brock Purdy’s doing amazing things out on the field.”

    Purdy has reset the NFL record book with a few milestones thus far:

    — He is among a quartet of quarterbacks to win their first 10 regular-season starts, matching Mike Tomczak (1986 Bears) and Mike Livingston (1969 Chiefs) who are five shy of the 15-0 record set by Ben Roethlisberger (2004 Steelers).

    — Purdy’s 121.1 passer rating is the NFL’s best ever through 10 starts, ahead of Rob Johnson (1997 Jags, 1998 Bills; 113.8 rating) and Patrick Mahomes (2017-18 Chiefs; 112.7 rating). Purdy’s 123.1 rating this season leads the NFL.

    — His 70.4 completion percentage in 10 starts is second in NFL history to Chad Pennington (70.4%; 2002 Jets). Purdy’s 72.1-percentage this season is second to Josh Allen (73.1%; Bills).

    Brady, for comparison, went 7-3 over his first 10 starts for the 2001 Patriots with a 94.5 rating and a 66.1 completion percentage (2,036 yards; 16 touchdowns; seven interceptions). Brady went on to win his last nine games that season, including three in a playoff run that culminated with a 20-17 Super Bowl win over the Rams.

    Purdy has not been intercepted in his past 235 passes, dating to New Year’s Day in Las Vegas. “He makes good decisions,” Browns safety Grant Delpit told Cleveland.com. “He finds his playmakers. They have plays drawn up for him that’s nice reads for him and he makes the reads. … Hopefully we cause a little problem for him.”

    The Browns boast the NFL’s No. 1 defense in terms of total yards allowed (196.8 per game) and passing yards (125). The 49ers’ offense ranks third in total yards (402.6 per game) and eighth in passing (246.8)

    GREENLAW’S HAMSTRING INJURY

    The 49ers cited a hamstring injury for linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s absence from practice, a day after he missed practice for what was listed as rest and not an injury.

    Running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) practiced for the first time in two weeks and looks capable of returning from a two-game absence. Guard Aaron Banks (shoulder) was limited.

    PREPARING FOR P.J.?

    With Dashaun Watson unable to practice because of a rotator cuff injury, the Browns could be moving closer to starting P.J. Walker, who previously was with the Carolina Panthers. So was Steve Wilks, the 49ers defensive coordinator who finished last season as the Panthers’ interim coach.

    “He’s very capable of running that offense,” Wilks said of Walker. “He makes good decisions. He’s good with the ball. He can win with his legs, a lot of what Deshaun can do. People say are they going to dummy down the offense? I don’t think so. He’s more than capable of running the offense. “

    Myles Garrett (foot) returned to practice but the Browns remained without guard Joel Bitanio (knee) and tight end David Njoku (face, hands).

    KITTLE FINE?

    Tight end George Kittle said he’s yet to hear from the NFL but figures he’ll probably draw a $10,927 fine, in regards to an expletive written on his undershirt in Sunday’s game. After Jordan Mason scored the 49ers’ final touchdown, Kittle celebrated by lifting his jersey and exposing a T-shirt that read: “(Expletive) Dallas,” which he wore in honor of a similar shirt former 49ers linebacker Gary Plummer donned in a 1994 win over the Cowboys.

    “I mean, I wore a personalized T-shirt, maybe with an inappropriate word,” Kittle said. “It is what it is. It’s a decision I made. If they want to fine me, they fine me.” Kittle added that “100-percent, I’d do it again.” He also hopes to one day speak with Plummer, who endorsed Kittle’s shirt in interviews this week with NBC Sports Bay Area and KNBR.

     

    Source

  • Prophet Isa El-Buba, Family Involved In Car Accident (PHOTOS)

    The family of the General Overseer of the Evangelical Outreach Ministries International, Jos, Plateau State, Prophet Isa El-Buba were involved in a car accident but all came out of the vehicle alive.

    El-buba, who is one of the leading pastoral voices from northern Nigeria, disclosed this via his Facebook page on Thursday.

    He floated pictures of the vehicle and videos of himself and his family members thanking God for their safety.

    It is not immediately clear what caused the accident and where the development occurred, but the cleric stated his family are safe.

    He wrote, “The devil came too late, I and my family are shielded and protected by the hands of God.
    “Thank God for another awesome miracle. My wife, my children and grandchildren are all safe, healthy and strong to the glory of the Lord.

    “I’m using this as a point of contact to decree and declare that any devil hanging around your life waiting for your premature death that they have come too late in the mighty name of Jesus.”

    As seen in the video, his family members including children were in tears while thanking God for their safety.

    The cleric was one of the leading figures in the north who campaigned for the presidential candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

    He also backed the Christian Association of Nigeria’s position against same faith presidential candidate and running mate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Source

  • Fact Check: ‘Lies and fakes news;’ Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza wasn’t destroyed

    Rumors about the Israel-Hamas war have run rampant on social media, and among them is a claim that Israel reduced a church in Gaza to rubble. 

    “Israel just bombed and destroyed the third oldest church in the world and the biggest church in Palestine,” an Oct. 9 Instagram post said, sharing a photo of St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church. 

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    The church responded to the unfounded claims on Facebook. 

    “We inform you that the church of St. Porphyrios in Gaza is in the best condition,” read an English Facebook translation of the church’s Oct. 9 post. “And the news you spread is nothing more than rumors.” 

    It went on to call the claims “lies and fake news.” 

    Subsequent posts from the church haven’t contradicted this. 

    We rate claims the church was destroyed False.

     



    Source

  • Online Video Misrepresents Ukraine’s Conscription of Women in War with Russia

    Para leer en español, vea esta traducción de Google Translate.

    Quick Take

    Ukraine began requiring women with medical and pharmaceutical backgrounds to register for the military on Oct. 1 and remain in the country in the event they are called into service. But a video, posted by a YouTube show that frequently spreads misinformation, misleadingly claims that Ukraine ordered all women ages 18 to 60 to “report for duty.”

    Full Story

    U.S. officials estimated in August that 70,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. On the Russian side, the U.S. officials say there have been about 120,000 deaths and up to 180,000 injured soldiers.

    The heavy Ukrainian casualties are partly due to limited medical facilities and staff on the front lines, the New York Times reported in August. Combat medics are often unable to get to casualties on the battlefield, and hospitals can’t handle the number of wounded.

    Now, the country is requiring women with medical backgrounds to register at enlistment offices. Women in this group are prohibited from leaving the country.

    Ukraine’s Defense Ministry published Order No. 313 in December 2021, requiring all Ukrainian women ages 18 to 60 in more than 100 professions to register at enlistment offices. The order had called for registration by the end of 2022, but the Ukrainian Defense Minister postponed Order No. 313’s registration requirement until Oct. 1, 2023.

    The order came in response to Russia’s increased military presence near Ukraine’s border. But the order was precautionary — it does not require universal conscription of women, nor does it require women to serve in combat.

    The Ukrainian Armed Forces issued a statement saying, “All medical women, these are doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives, pharmacists, ages 18 to 60, will be required to register for military service starting October 1,” CNN reported on Sept. 8. The military did not require registration for women in other professions, the Kyiv Post reported.

    But a video shared on Facebook on Oct. 4 misrepresents the Ukrainian military requirement that went into effect Oct. 1. The headline on the video reads, “Ukraine Has Run Out Of Men. Women Must Report For Duty!”

    The video is a segment from the YouTube show Redacted, hosted by Clayton Morris and his wife, Natali. The show has previously spread misinformation about COVID-19, as we’ve written.

    “Ukraine has passed a new law on military registration of all women conscripts. It’s now enforced as of the first of October. The obligation applies to all Ukrainian women between the ages of 18 and 60,” Clayton Morris misleadingly claims, as viewers see a headline that reads, “Ukrainian women to be conscripted as the country faces Russian forces.”

    Morris is a former host of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” and a real estate investor who moved with his wife to Portugal following allegations of fraud by former clients.

    Since the war in Ukraine began, Morris has amplified Russian talking points and been featured on RT, the Russian-controlled news network.

    Order Does Not Apply to All Women

    Since the activation of Order No. 313 on Oct. 1, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has selectively enforced the order, Jessica Trisko Darden, associate professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University, told FactCheck.org in a phone interview.

    The types of professional work covered by Order No. 313 “are not comprehensive,” explained Trisko Darden, who has researched the role of women in the Ukrainian military. The Defense Ministry has decided to selectively apply the order’s registration requirement as certain professions are needed, Trisko Darden said.

    “Registration for the draft is not mobilization. Ukraine has always said that they will not compel women into combat roles,” Trisko Darden said.

    Officials have not said whether women would serve as medics in combat zones, she said. But Trisko Darden expects at least some of these women to administer medications and provide medical aid in hospitals, as needed.

    So Morris’ claim that Ukraine is requiring “all Ukrainian women” to register with the military is misleading, as we said.

    Order No. 313 does not require all Ukrainian women to register, and the Defense Ministry is currently only enforcing the order’s registration requirement for women with certain medical and pharmaceutical backgrounds.

    It’s worth noting that Ukrainian women have had combat roles and other responsibilities in supporting their country’s armed forces. More than 60,000 women voluntarily serve in the military.

    Sources

    Boffey, Daniel. “‘Fighting two enemies:’ Ukraine’s female soldiers decry harassment.” The Guardian. 4 Aug 2023.

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    Cook, Tony and Tim Evans. “Ex-Fox & Friends co-host Clayton Morris leaves country amid fraud allegations.” IndyStar. 12 Jul 2019.

    Cooper, Helene, et al. “Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say.” New York Times. 18 Aug 2023.

    Gilbert, Asha C. “Reports: Ukraine bans all male citizens ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country.” USA Today. 25 Feb 2022.

    Goldstein, Matthew. “An Ex-Fox News Host Pitched ‘Financial Freedom.’ His Clients Want Their Money Back.” New York Times. 25 Mar 2019.

    Hendrix, Stevie and Serhii Korolchuk. “On the front lines, Ukrainian women are often the first responders.” Washington Post. 3 Jul 2022.

    Jessica Trisko Darden. Political Science professor, Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU.edu. Accessed 11 Oct 2023.

    Knight, Mariya. “Women who have medical education must register for military service, says Ukraine.” CNN. 8 Sep 2023.

    Kyiv Post. “Confusion as Registration of Women for the Draft Postponed.” Kyiv Post. 8 Sep 2022.

    Kyiv Post. “Some Women in Ukraine Must Register for Army — Could Still Go Abroad.” Kyiv Post. 8 Sep 2023.

    McDonald, Jessica. “COVID-19 Vaccines Tested in Clinical Trials, Despite Bogus Social Media Claims.” FactCheck.org. 18 Jan 2023.

    Media Bias Fact Check. “Redacted — Bias and Credibility.” Updated 11 Jul 2023.

    Mueller, Chris. “False claim Putin banned oil exports to US; US already halted that in 2022.” USA Today. 8 May 2023.

    Order No. 313–On Approval of the List of Specialties and/or Professions Related to the Relevant Military Accounting Specialties, After Obtaining Which Women Are Registered as Persons Liable for Military Service and the List of Specialties and/or Professions Related to the Relevant Military Accounting Specialties. 3 Dec 2021.

    RT. “Redacted host Clayton Morris: one year after Nord Stream attack, Russell Brand, attacks against Rumble.” 30 Sep 2023.

    “Russia Ukraine: Putin compares Donbas war zone to genocide.” BBC News. 10 Dec 2021.

    Slipchenko, Sergiy. “Explained: New requirement for Ukrainian women to register for possible military, civil defense service.” The Kyiv Independent. 25 Dec 2021.

    Snodgrass, Erin. “Ukrainian president announces general mobilization of all conscripts and reservists to last 90 days.” Business Insider. 24 Feb 2022.

    Trisko Darden, Jessica. Interview with FactCheck.org. 9 Oct 2023.

    Trisko Darden, Jessica. “Ukraine’s military policy puts women in headlines, but not front lines.” Washington Post. 21 Dec 2022.

    U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy. “Ukrainian woman fight for their country’s future.” Press release. 5 Mar 2023.

    Source

  • San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn has message for Kevin Labanc

    SAN JOSE – Kevin Labanc began last season in the San Jose Sharks’ top-six forward group, playing alongside captain Logan Couture.

    This year, Labanc will have to watch the Sharks’ season opener from the press box, or elsewhere inside SAP Center.

    “It’s tough,” Labanc said. “You play because you want to play in those games, and you’ve just got to make sure that you’re ready to go for the next game, or whatever the case may be.”

    Sharks coach David Quinn said Labanc is still getting his conditioning all the way back after he missed more than a week of training camp with an upper-body injury. But even when Labanc is fully ready to play again – and the forward said he probably could go right now if need be – it might be a challenge for him to get back to regularly being in a top-six or top-nine role again, considering some of the skilled forwards the Sharks added in the offseason.

    For the Sharks’ season-opener against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, Hertl was projected to have Mike Hoffman and Filip Zadina on his wings. Anthony Duclair and Alexander Barabanov were slated to play with center Thomas Bordeleau, and Mikael Granlund was to play in the middle on a line with William Eklund and Luke Kunin.

    Of those players, only Hertl, Kunin, and Barabanov were in the Sharks’ lineup for last season’s opening games in Prague against the Nashville Predators. The Sharks added five forwards via trade or free agency this offseason, and right now also have Eklund as a top-six winger.

    “It’s great depth for the season,” Labanc said. “That’s what all coaches want, is a lot of depth and a lot of forwards. That’s what helps you win games.”

    Labanc, listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds and in a contract year, practiced this week on the fourth line and joined Nico Sturm, Givani Smith, and Fabian Zetterlund, three players who combine to average about 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds.

    Labanc will certainly get his opportunities to play this season, perhaps as soon as later in this homestand when the Sharks face Colorado, Carolina, and Boston on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday, respectively. But where he might fit on a regular basis, especially in this changing Sharks landscape, remains to be seen.

    “I think he’s got the ability to solidify himself in our group and do what he does best,” Quinn said of Labanc. “But he’s just a little bit behind right now.”

    Asked if he looks at it as a competition, Labanc, said, “It’s always competition. From day one of my first year and my first game first preseason game, it’s always competition. That’s the game and that’s why you love to play.”

    Labanc spoke with Quinn before Thursday’s morning skate, and again with assistant Brian Wiseman after he and fellow scratches Nikolai Knyzhov and Ty Emberson were put through the paces in a lengthy bag skate at Sharks Ice.

    Both coaches had a similar message for Labanc in terms of the work ethic they wanted to see. Labanc had 33 points in 72 games last season, sixth-most on the team, but also struggled to be consistent, and was scratched on 10 occasions.

    Source

  • Kaduna State University Students Protest 5 Months Power Outage, Threaten To Boycott Exams

    The students of Kaduna State University (KASU), Kafanchan campus, have protested the over-five-month power blackout in their school.

    The protesting students with placards bearing various inscriptions like, ‘Bring back light to KASU’, ‘No light, no exams’, ‘Light up Kafanchan Campus and restore our light’, threatened to boycott the second semester examinations if the power supply was not restored.

    The Kafanchan campus’s power supply was disconnected for over five months due to the inability of the school to offset the backlog of unsettled electricity bills.

    Speaking during the protest, Vice Vice President 1 of Kaduna State Student’s Union (KADSSU), KASU chapter, Eli Sajo, lamented that the students’ preparations for their forthcoming examination were being hampered due to the prolonged power outage.

    Sajo, who led the protest on behalf of the joint leadership of various students’ unions, stated that the students have written several letters to complain about the situation but none has yielded positive response.

    “We cannot continue learning in an unconducive environment,” he stated.

    He added that the blackout was also posing a threat to their safety as the students have had their property and other valuables stolen or vandalized by hoodlums.

    He, however, acknowledged the efforts of the school’s management in providing alternative sources of power supply, which he described as unsustainable.

    Sajo warned the school management to address the issue before the starting of their examination on October 30 or the students will boycott the examination.

    Speaking to the protesting students, the Provost of Kafanchan campus, Prof. Ibrahim Sodangi, stated that the management was doing everything within its powers to resolve the issue.

    He added that a compendium of the institution’s needs had been tabled before the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, who, he said, was committed to resolving them.

    Sodangi commended the students for their peaceful conduct during the protest and urged them to give room for dialogue so that their grievances would be adequately resolved.

    Source

  • Fact Check: Hamas militants ‘pouring’ across U.S. southern border? Donald Trump’s claim is Pants on Fire!

    Former President Donald Trump made the egregious claim that the perpetrators of the violent attacks on Israel, are entering the U.S. through the southern border. 

    “The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our totally open southern border, at record numbers,” Trump said Oct. 9 on Truth Social. “Are they planning an attack within our country? Crooked Joe Biden and his boss Barack Hussein Obama did this to us!”

    Trump’s statement leaves the impression that Hamas militants — the terrorist group in Gaza that attacked Israel — are crossing the border in Mexico into the United States.

    Trump provided no evidence to back up his claim, and didn’t elaborate when he made similar remarks in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and  West Palm Beach, Florida. We asked his campaign for evidence and received no reply.

    Terrorism experts told us that there is no proof to back up that claim. And a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said there is no intelligence to signal a threat to the U.S. from Hamas.

    “There is no credible evidence of Hamas on the southern border of the United States,” said Jason M. Blazakis, director of the Middlebury College’s Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism. 

    Hamas is an Islamic militant group that formed in Gaza in the 1980s. The U.S. State Department designated it as a terrorist group in 1997. Hamas in 2006 won elections in the Palestinian territories and in 2007 took over Gaza. Hamas’ charter calls for the destruction of Israel. Hamas’ attack on multiple sites in Israel in October was the deadliest attack on Israel in decades.

    Trump’s comments echo what he said as president, when he linked immigrants to terrorism.

    No evidence that Hamas militants crossing southern border

    Despite historically high numbers of migrant encounters at the border, it is not “open” for everyone to come in, as Trump claimed. Physical barriers, surveillance technology and about 20,000 U.S. Border Patrol agents help limit who and what enters the country. 

    “There is no truth” to Trump’s claim about Hamas militants “pouring” across the U.S. southern border, said David Bier, an immigration expert at the libertarian Cato Institute.

    Alex Nowrasteh, the Cato Institute’s vice president for economic and social policy studies, studied attacks or planned attacks in the U.S. from 1975 through 2022 by 219 foreign-born terrorists. During the nearly five-decade span, four were from Palestine, and the most recent attempted attack was in 1997. Nowrasteh told PolitiFact that as far as he knew, none of the attackers were part of Hamas. The largest group executing an attack on U.S. soil came from Saudi Arabia — the 9/11 terrorists. 

    Experts said there is some evidence of Middle East terrorist groups operating in Latin America. But the experts added that they had not seen evidence that Hamas had crossed the U.S. southern border.

    Arie Perliger, a security studies professor at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, said that “there was some evidence for coordination or collaboration between Hezbollah and Mexican cartels” in the past decade, but he had never heard of Hamas’s involvement. (Hezbollah is a militant group from Lebanon and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.)

    Republicans misleadingly pivot to U.S. border security  

    Some of Trump’s rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination have also stoked fears about a threat in the U.S. following the Hamas attack.

    But experts said that Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel cannot be looked at through the lens of U.S. border security. 

    “They both involve borders, but the comparison ends there,” Bier said. “People aren’t crossing the border to conduct terrorist attacks or take over parts of the United States. A very small percentage may come to commit ordinary crimes, like selling drugs, but overwhelmingly, they are coming for economic opportunity and freedom.”

    There is not a terrorist movement in Mexico, Central America or South America that targets the U.S. or in any way compares with Hamas targeting Israel, Nowrasteh said. 

    “It’s just a radically different security environment,” Nowrasteh said.

    Blazakis, of Middlebury College, said the comparison was a “false analogy.”

    “The vast majority of people who are at the southern border are trying to escape criminal gangs and drug trafficking organization violence,” he said.

    Terrorist watch list isn’t an indicator of a threat

    The number of times immigration officials have encountered people on the terrorist watchlist at the U.S. southern border has risen in the past two years. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports this data annually but doesn’t include the  nationality of people on the list. 

    Experts say imprecise and sometimes flawed data make these numbers a bad gauge of the threat of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. For example, many of the people on the list are neither suspected terrorists nor affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations that pose a threat to the U.S., said Nowrasteh. 

    Instead, people could be on the list because they have some affiliation with members of a terrorist organization, according to CBP. Or they could belong to domestic guerilla groups, sometimes inactive, that are not international terrorist organizations. 

    Additionally, CBP data can include false positives, or people who were added to the watchlist because they share the same name or birth date as someone listed.

    Our ruling 

    Trump said, “the same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers.”

    The onus is on Trump to prove his claim, and he provided no evidence to support it.

    Terrorism experts told us that there is no evidence that Hamas, a terrorist group in Gaza, has militants crossing the Mexico-U.S. border, much less in record numbers. And a DHS spokesperson said there is no credible intelligence to signal a threat to the U.S. from Hamas. 

    The southern border is not open for everyone to come in. Barriers, detection technology and immigration agents limit who and what can enter the country.  

    We rate Trump’s statement Pants on Fire!

    RELATED: Fact-check: What Trump said about ‘$6 billion to Iran,’ immigration, economy at New Hampshire rally

    RELATED: Donald Trump wrong that US tax dollars went to Iran, Hamas



    Source

  • Posts Share Bogus Memo to Falsely Claim U.S. Is Sending Additional $8 Billion to Israel

    Quick Take

    The U.S. provides Israel with $3.8 billion each year in military funding under an already established agreement. But social media posts are sharing a doctored “memorandum” that falsely purports to show an additional $8 billion was approved for Israel by President Joe Biden on Oct. 7, the day war began between Hamas and Israel.

    Full Story

    A doctored document falsely claiming that the U.S. is providing $8 billion in aid to Israel has been circulating on social media since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7.

    Images shared on Instagram, X and other social media platforms of the fabricated “memorandum” dated Oct. 7, 2023, says President Joe Biden authorized “up to $8 billion in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense and military education and training, to provide assistance to Israel.”

    But, as other fact-checking organizations have explained, the document is an altered version of other memos that provided aid to Ukraine.

    There is no such memorandum referring to $8 billion for Israel listed among the presidential actions for Oct. 7, and the language in the posts matches exactly — except for the amount and the designated country — what was written for at least two documents Biden signed earlier this year authorizing aid to Ukraine.

    A spokesperson for the Biden administration also told the Associated Press that the memo shared on social media is fake.

    That said, the U.S. has a long-standing relationship with Israel and has provided more than $158 billion in aid since the country’s founding in 1948, according to the Congressional Research Service.

    The most recent agreement, signed in 2016, requires the U.S. to send $38 billion to Israel between 2019 and 2028. That amounts to $3.8 billion per year.

    Since the recent violence broke out, the U.S. has also provided additional military supplies to Israel — including components for the country’s missile defense system known as the “Iron Dome” — and has increased its military presence in the region.

    At least 25 U.S. citizens have been killed in the fighting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in remarks on Oct. 12.

    Sources

    Reuters Fact Check. “Fact Check: U.S. document approving $8bn military aid to Israel is fake.” Reuters. 9 Oct 2023.

    Hudnall, Hannah. “No $8 billion aid package for Israel. False claim spreads from fabricated memo.” USA Today. 10 Oct 2023.

    Marcelo, Philip. “Biden hasn’t signed a recent order sending $8B in aid to Israel. A ‘memo’ circulating online was altered.” Associated Press. 9 Oct 2023.

    Presidential Actions. Whitehouse.gov. Archived 11 Oct 2023.

    Biden, Joe. “Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.” Whitehouse.gov. 3 Mar 2023.

    Biden, Joe. “Memorandum on Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.” Whitehouse.gov. 4 Apr 2023.

    Sharp, Jeremy. “U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel.” Congressional Research Service. 1 Mar 2023.

    Press release. “FACT SHEET: Memorandum of Understanding Reached with Israel.” Whitehouse.gov. 14 Sep 2016.

    Source

  • 10 reasons to hit the road along Oregon’s North Coast – Paradise Post

    Susan Young | TravelPulse (TNS)

    The 75-mile stretch along Oregon’s Highway 101 from Astoria to Tillamook offers a day trip full of surprises. Also known as the Oregon Coast Highway, this route can be accessed a couple of hours from Portland and includes traversing the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

    The diverse topography and charming towns make this a beautiful way to spend a day on the road.

    An aerial view of Astoria, Oregon. (Dan Klimke/Dreamstime/TNS)
    An aerial view of Astoria, Oregon. (Dan Klimke/Dreamstime/TNS)

    Astoria

    Located in the northwest tip of Oregon lies the state’s first city, Astoria, and the largest on this trip. The Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean at this point, and, alongside the Astoria-Megler Bridge, this historic city offers a rich map of walking tours and water activities.

    The Riverfront Trolley is a deal for $1, which gets you a one-hour round trip covering three miles on the River Walk with stops including the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The Museum offers multiple interactive experience about shipwrecks, information about the treacherous bar crossings and features a U.S. Coast Guard bar pilot pulling boat.

    Take a drive up to the top of the hill overlooking city, to The Astoria Column, a monument to the Pacific Northwest and the people who settled there, as well as the Chinook Indian culture. If you are able-bodied enough to climb to the top, you’ll hold bragging rights to a 360-degree view of the city, bay and river. At night The Column is colorfully lit up for all to see from below. This city is full of cinematic history, also, with The Goonies having been filmed in town and, further south, in Cannon Beach.

    Seaside

    A short drive south on Highway 101 you will find the town of Seaside. From kite festivals to sandcastle competitions to bumper cars, this family-oriented spot offers tons of things to do with the kids. Local eateries tempt you with freshly caught crab and other seafood or, if the kids are clamoring for a dose of fast-food fries, you’ll find them on 101, along with other national chains.

    A stroll along the Promenade (or The Prom, as the locals call it) offers a 1.5-mile paved path along the coast. A history lesson about the Lewis and Clark expedition is found along the walkway in the form of historic landmarks and culminating in a bronze statue commemorating The End of the Trail. This is the spot where the explorers ended their 4,000-mile journey and turned around to return home.

    Ecola State Park

    Back on Highway 101, traveling south toward Cannon Beach, the road veers inland a bit around Ecola State Park. Stretching nine miles along the coastline, this park offers amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, hiking trails and glimpses of the famous Haystack Rock. Head into the town of Cannon Beach, where you can get a closer view of this massive rock.

    Cannon Beach

    Cannon Beach presents itself as a higher-end, artsy community, of galleries, shops, restaurants and bars. No fast-food chains here and a bit pricier than its northern neighbor. Parking is ample throughout town and it’s an easy walk to the beach for a view of Haystack. When the tide rolls out, you can walk up to it and search the various tide pools for colorful sea life.

    Home to the largest onshore population of tufted puffins, in the continental U.S., you might catch sight of them between April and August. Recent sightings of stranded cougars, during high tide, have put beachgoers on alert but this is an uncommon event.

    Leaving the town, you might want to choose to drive along South Hemlock Street, eventually merging with Highway 101. This is a popular place to see elegant elk, munching on local homeowners’ lush landscapes. Herds have also been spotted on the beach during sunrise and sunset, close to Haystack.

    Manzanita

    Back on the road, a few miles south, you will find a trio of sweet towns, Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler. You’ll need to first stop at a couple of scenic overlooks from Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain before you get to Manzanita’s main street. These spots offer jaw dropping views and photo ops of Manzanita Beach and the Pacific Ocean, with a trailhead available from the south viewpoint.

    From there head south to Manzanita’s Laneda Avenue for a drive down to the beach through this pleasant town, offering shops and restaurants run by locals. If you’re in the mood for a casual food truck, check out Manzanita Mudd Dogs for an authentic Chicago hot dog, or have it custom-made to your liking. You will find a nice selection of eateries for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The beach is easily accessible with the Neah-Kah-Nie in full view, reaching into the surf.

    Nehalem

    Don’t blink when you get to Nehalem or you will miss an opportunity to check out the North Coast Pinball lounge, the local distillery Spirits of the West, and Buttercup, a gourmet chowder and ice cream restaurant. Watch while your choice of chowder is created in front of you, then enjoy it on the banks of the Nehalem River. Don’t forget to taste their homemade ice cream creations before you leave.

    Wheeler

    Next, check out the antique shops and marina in Wheeler for a dose of old village charm before heading south for more discoveries. On the way to Rockaway Beach, keep an eye out for the old crabbing boat at the entrance to Kelly’s Brighton Marina. This is the place to go for lessons in crabbing and the kids will love this campground with boat rentals available for your adventure.

    Rockaway Beach

    On a clear day, Rockaway Beach offers a gorgeous view of the Twin Rocks but be prepared for the fog banks to roll in on a moment’s notice. Kites are a big deal here and, if you’re a fan of corn dogs, the Original Pronto Pup is a must see.

    Tillamook

    A visit to Tillamook Creamery, before entering the downtown district, offers an opportunity to see how your favorite cheese and ice cream is made. Entry is free and multiple samples are offered. Touted as the House Cheddar Built, this facility offers tours, tastings and ice cream treats. After your visit, check out the Dutch Mill Café for lunch on Main Avenue, where you will be immersed in an authentic 1950’s diner.

    Oceanside

    To wrap up your trip along the northeast coast head due west on Highway 131 for 6 miles to Oceanside along the Three Capes Scenic Loop. On a clear day you can spot the Three Arch Rocks as you make your way up to the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse. You’ll get an up close view of the beacon as well as amazing views of the Pacific.

    This trip represents only a fraction of what the Oregon coast has to offer but can easily be completed in one day. You’ll need to schedule a few more days to fully appreciate the entire coastline.

    _____

    ©2023 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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