Sherri Tenpenny
Magnetic Vaccines Testimony
Sherri Tenpenny is an osteopathic physician who has been involved in anti-vaccine advocacy for several decades. She was identified by the Center for Countering Digital Hate's 2021 "Disinformation Dozen" report as one of twelve individuals responsible for generating a significant share of anti-vaccine content on social media. Tenpenny has disputed the characterization of her work as misinformation, arguing that she is presenting legitimate safety concerns about vaccines that mainstream medicine dismisses without adequate investigation.
In June 2021, Tenpenny testified before the Ohio state legislature against a bill that would prohibit employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccination. During her testimony, she stated that COVID-19 vaccines could make recipients magnetic and might interact with 5G cellular towers. She attempted to demonstrate by placing a metal key on her neck. The key did not adhere. The testimony received widespread media coverage and was characterized by medical and science commentators as false. Tenpenny has maintained that the vaccine safety concerns she raises deserve serious attention.
Tenpenny sells online courses focused on vaccine safety arguments, priced at several hundred dollars per course. Critics have argued that this commercial arrangement creates a financial incentive to perpetuate vaccine skepticism. She characterizes the courses as providing information that parents and healthcare workers cannot easily find through mainstream channels.
Tenpenny has been removed from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for violations of their health misinformation policies. She has received complaints to the Ohio State Medical Board related to her public statements about vaccines. She has continued her advocacy through alternative platforms and her own website. Her supporters regard her as a medical professional willing to challenge consensus with important safety information; public health authorities and medical boards have characterized her claims about vaccines as false and harmful to public health.