Debunking two false claims about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and mRNA vaccines circulating in Brazil.

The Pfizer vaccine has been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, but with its success has come misinformation. Two fake news stories circulating in Brazil claim that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is associated with a higher risk of stroke and that COVID-19 vaccines release fibrins into the bloodstream, causing health problems. Let's set the record straight.

First, it is not true that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is associated with a higher risk of stroke. The US regulatory agency, the FDA, investigated this possibility after 130 reports of strokes among 550,000 elderly individuals who received the bivalent Pfizer vaccine. However, the investigation did not find any direct relationship between the vaccine and the occurrence of stroke.

Second, it is also false that COVID-19 vaccines release fibrins into the bloodstream, causing health problems. A video circulating on social media shows a woman claiming to have seen fibrins in her blood under a microscope and that the vaccines cause lifelong risks. However, fibrins are proteins responsible for blood clotting, and the body naturally produces them to stop bleeding. The woman also recommends that children not be vaccinated, but all vaccines are scientifically proven to be safe and effective for children (including the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for infants from 6 months old), preventing severe COVID-19 and death.

The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, which means it teaches cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. This immune response helps protect against COVID-19. mRNA vaccines have been extensively tested, and their safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in clinical trials and real-world data.

In conclusion, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer is safe, and there is no evidence linking it to an increased risk of stroke. Furthermore, the claim that COVID-19 vaccines release fibrins into the bloodstream and cause lifelong health problems is false. Vaccines are an essential tool in the fight against COVID-19, and getting vaccinated is crucial to protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your community.