Erin Elizabeth

Erin Elizabeth Finn is an American alternative health blogger who founded Health Nut News in January 2014 and is based in Ormond Beach, Florida. She holds no verifiable medical, scientific, or health-related credentials. She is the longtime romantic partner of Joseph Mercola, who has been described as one of the most financially successful promoters of anti-vaccine content online and who was himself named in the Disinformation Dozen report.

Health Nut News quickly built an audience by mixing genuine wellness lifestyle content with increasingly conspiratorial claims about vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and the healthcare system. Elizabeth promoted anti-vaccine content, claimed that integrative and natural remedies could prevent or treat serious diseases, and became a prominent amplifier of conspiracy theories about COVID-19. During the pandemic she spread claims about Bill Gates's alleged role in vaccine surveillance, the suppressed effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, and the dangers of COVID vaccines.

In February 2019, Pinterest banned links to Health Nut News for promoting false and dangerous health information, making Elizabeth one of the earlier prominent figures to be deplatformed. In 2021, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) named Elizabeth and Joseph Mercola as two of the 'Disinformation Dozen' — twelve individuals whose accounts were alleged to be responsible for 65% of COVID-19 anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms. On May 13, 2021, Facebook banned Elizabeth's personal and professional accounts, her 16 groups, and her Instagram accounts for spreading health misinformation.

Despite deplatforming from major social networks, Elizabeth has continued her activities through alternative platforms, email newsletters, and her website, maintaining an audience in the anti-vaccine and alternative health community.

“Bill Gates is using COVID-19 vaccines as a tool for population surveillance and control.”

This conspiracy theory has no factual basis. The claim that Bill Gates is inserting microchips through vaccines or tracking the population through vaccination is entirely fabricated. Facebook banned Elizabeth's account partly for spreading this specific disinformation.

“Hydroxychloroquine is an effective COVID-19 treatment being suppressed by the government.”

Multiple large randomized clinical trials, including the WHO's SOLIDARITY trial and the UK's RECOVERY trial, found hydroxychloroquine provided no clinical benefit for COVID-19 patients. The FDA revoked its emergency authorization for this reason.

“Vaccines cause a wide range of severe harms that are being covered up by health authorities.”

Vaccine safety monitoring systems in the US and globally detect genuine rare adverse events. The common serious harms claimed by Elizabeth and Health Nut News are not supported by the epidemiological evidence. The overall safety and benefit profile of recommended vaccines is well-established.