Microchip Implantation through Vaccination is not Happening

Last week I was asked to comment by the Australian Science Media Center on the possibility of implanting humans with microchips re: during the process of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The request came from a well known publication outlet, and I thought this was important to respond to.

I first received such a question from a clinical nurse in Queensland who was inquiring on behalf of a client who was convinced he had been microchipped without his knowledge. It was about 2009 and the clinical nurse wanted to make sure she had considered all avenues.

Are different types of embedded transmitters being considered for drug delivery? The answer is of course! Researchers are trialing a number of solutions all over the world. This does not mean that vaccines developed for COVID-19 have in-built transmitters, though it is not impossible to consider that one day this might be a solution (i.e. smart dust/motes) for something. Right now, the evidence suggests otherwise.

I provided the following statement to the Australian Science Media Center.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponders can be administered through a syringe needle allowing for what is known as near field communication – this is how pets are microchipped. But these sorts of microchips are not so small that you wouldn’t see them in a vaccine.

They would also show up in x-rays. These types of standalone embedded microchip devices can only be tracked using a reader that is close to the human body (usually not more than 10cm away).

New technology based around tiny sensors called smartdust or motes have also been developed, but there is no evidence to suggest these are in modern vaccines.

It's not to say they might not have roles in medicine in the future as there is already research into embedding RFID transmitters in tablets to swallow.

At the same time novel innovations are being patented like implantable GPS but these still have significant challenges to overcome before they become functional, for example about 60% of the human body is made up of water, and water doesn’t mix well with GPS, as well as issues related to direct Line of Sight to satellites.

There is the potential to use several wireless technologies in tandem (called tethering devices) to offer a more continuous form of tracking, e.g. a microchip implant in the hand that can be read by an app if you bring your smartphone close enough (if the app on the phone allows for that triggerability).

This sort of technology could be used by the health industry for prosthesis.

This technology raises a great number of ethical, legal and social implications, particularly when we are considering the commercialisation of this technology towards epayment or other applications.