Last Updated on July 25, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post has indirectly claimed that shingles (herpes zoster) induced by Pfizer Covid vaccine has caused monkeypox. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
A Twitter post claims “#Monkeypox is reported in Countries that used #Pfitzer #vaccine. Tis in reality the #herpeszóster induced by the #COVID vax which weaken our immune system. Tis a ruse by Pfitzer 2cover up its activity & is of course using the Suisse private corruptable Org #WHO 2deflect attention”.
Fact Check
Did shingles (herpes zoster) induced by Pfizer Covid vaccine cause monkeypox?
It does not seem so. Shingles and monkeypox are two different diseases caused by viruses from different families. Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is the reactivation of the Varicella zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Varicella zoster belongs to the Herpesviruses family. On the other hand, monkeypox belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus in the poxviridae family and is unrelated to the Varicella zoster virus.
Although both diseases cause rashes on the skin, a 2021 study has highlighted that Varicella zoster rash looks different from the monkeypox rash. Also, shingles affect a section of the body, whereas monkeypox affects the entire body.
Is shingles (herpes zoster) induced by Pfizer Covid vaccine?
It seems so. The Pfizer safety document shows herpes zoster is an adverse event after taking its covid vaccine. This document records all adverse events after taking the vaccine, irrespective of whether the vaccine induced them. So, we searched for published research papers. As a result, we found a few papers that have recorded cases of herpes zoster after the mRNA covid vaccine. However, we need more evidence to establish herpes zoster as the side effect of the Pfizer covid vaccine.
THIP MEDIA TAKE: No evidence confirms shingles (herpes zoster) induced by the Pfizer Covid vaccine has caused monkeypox. There is a missing link which does not tie herpes zoster, Pfizer covid vaccine and monkeypox to prove the claim. So, the claim is mostly false until proven otherwise.
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