Last Updated on August 31, 2021 by Team THIP
Quick Take
A number of social media users have started sharing a message claiming that pharmaceuticals companies are now planning to bring our monthly subscriptions for Covid vaccines. We fact-checked and found that the claim is false.
The Claim
“Big pharma wants to turn your immune system into a subscription service,” writes one of the users. Such posts can be seen here, and here.
Fact Check
Will be vaccines be required to be taken monthly?
No. There is no scientific evidence or WHO guidelines about vaccines to be taken monthly. Currently, vaccines are taken in one-dose or two-dose schedules only, depending on the manufacturer.
Few manufacturers have suggested an extra dose after a few months. Pfizer, one of the leading Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers, did a study on the extra booster dose. The study findings say that that the booster dose “induces significant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers and demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile.”
While Pfizer sought approval from the US FDA for booster dose, scientists are still divided on the extra shot. CDC suggested the availability of data on a booster shot is still ‘limited’.
However (as of August 31, 2021), the third dose or the booster dose has not yet been launched or approved by any authority bodies across the world. And there is no suggestion about monthly vaccine shots for Covid-19 from any scientific body, pharmaceutical company, or Govt.
How did the rumour about monthly shots of vaccine begin?
The rumor about monthly shots probably started after an article published on the website ‘The BabylonBee’ titled “Pfizer+ monthly subscription program announced.” The article was NOT news reporting but a sarcastic take on the Pfizer CEO’s comment to media about the need for a booster dose. The website BabylonBee clearly states on their About Us page that they are a “satire site, totally inerrant in all its truth claims”.
We believe, the satirical piece was wrong misunderstood by social media users as news reporting and the rumor about monthly subscriptions was started.
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