No evidence COVID-19 vaccine caused comedian Heather McDonald’s fall

On Feb. 5, comedian Heather McDonald fainted and fell a few minutes into her set at a comedy club in Tempe, Arizona. 

She had been joking about how she hadn’t gotten COVID-19. 

"I don’t mean to brag, I don’t care, but I want you to know," she said, "double vaxxed, booster, flu shot, and — I’m going to be honest — I have the shingles shot, too. And I still get my period — what? Yes! Traveled, went to Mexico twice, did shows, meet-and-greets, never got COVID. Clearly, Jesus loves me the most. Seriously. So nice, so nice!"

Then she stumbled and fell backward in high heels and suffered a skull fracture. 

Predictably, some people are using this moment to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine caused her collapse. 

"WARNING," one Facebook post says. "This was 2 days ago when comedian Heather McDonald bragging about having 3 covid jabs and how they haven't harmed her, instantly collapses on stage, fracturing her skull as she hits the floor."

But McDonald’s husband, Peter Dobias, told us that "as of now, there’s no medical connection to the vaccine shot." 

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McDonald received two vaccine doses in 2021, Dobias said, and a third booster shot on Jan. 10, about a month before she fell. 

"We’ll keep you informed if any medical personnel connect that the booster shot was a contributing factor to her losing consciousness," he said. But that’s not currently the case. 

In the days since the fall, McDonald has said she may have been dehydrated or not eaten enough. A statement posted on her Facebook page said that "thus far the tests have revealed no underlying medical issues that may have precipitated this event."

McDonald has joked about the timing of her COVID-19 bit and collapse, posting a video on Instagram that says: "When you faint on stage after you brag about being vaccinated."

But claims that the COVID-19 vaccine caused her to fall are rooted in nothing more than speculation. If news emerges that there is a connection between the vaccine and the incident, we’ll reconsider our ruling. 

For now, we rate unfounded claims that the vaccine caused McDonald to fall False.