Pharmaceutical Companies Are Not Offering Vaccine Subscription Services
The Claim
People will soon be able to subscribe to monthly coronavirus vaccine subscriptions.
News posted on
Emerging story
A number of social media users have been claiming that Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies will soon be offering monthly coronavirus vaccines via subscription services. Some of these posts have managed to gain hundreds of interactions.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation could find no evidence that Pfizer or any other pharmaceutical company is developing a vaccine subscription program or offering monthly vaccine shots. It is likely that this rumor began due to a satirical article about Pfizer offering a monthly vaccine program. The article is published by The Babylon Bee, whose about page describes itself as “the world’s best satire site.”
The content of the article itself makes it clear that this story is a joke. For instance, the list of benefits of the program includes getting gold badges on social media for virtue signaling and access to videos of mainstream media sources shaming unvaccinated people.
This work of satire was likely inspired by the news that COVID vaccine booster shots may soon be offered in the U.S. The article makes fun of Pfizer and alleges that it is profiting from the pandemic by recommending a third shot. However, there is plenty of evidence that shows that further coronavirus booster shots are important.
None of the vaccines are advised to be given monthly. Instead, current research shows that booster shots should be administered eight months after an initial dose. Organizations such as the Department of Veterans Affairs currently recommend third doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines especially for people with weakened immune systems.
