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| - Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A post on Threads claims that the Pfizer CEO has admitted COVID-19 was a test. We did the fact check to term it as False.
The Claim
According to a post on Threads, the Pfizer CEO has admitted that COVID-19 was used as a test. The post caption reads:
BREAKING: Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla admitted yesterday that Covid was used as a test, while also saying that he believes that the best days of Pfizer are ahead.
“I truly think that the best days of Pfizer are ahead of us, because Covid was for me was like a rehearsal.”
Fact Check
What is the background of Albert Bourla’s statement?
Albert Bourla discussed COVID-19 during a session at The Economic Club of Chicago on February 2, 2023. The viral 23-second clip is from this nearly 70-minute session, not from June 2024 as erroneously claimed in the post. Bourla’s comments were part of a broader dialogue about Pfizer’s strategic direction post-pandemic.
What exactly did Bourla say?
In his dialogue with Helene Gayle, President of Spelman College, Bourla stated:
“I truly think that the best days of Pfizer are ahead of us because COVID was, for me, like a rehearsal. Prove Generali [general rehearsals]. How you can mobilise an organisation and do the impossible possible against a main disease. We are after cancer and many other things in the years to come.”
Clearly, Bourla used the term “like a rehearsal,” not “test,” to describe the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasised how the experience prepared Pfizer to tackle other significant health challenges, such as cancer.
Why is the distinction between “test” and “rehearsal” important?
In Bourla’s speech, “rehearsal” implies preparation and adaptation, whereas “test” could suggest a deliberate set-up or experiment. This misinterpretation has fuelled conspiracy theories that propose the pandemic was planned or manipulated for certain benefits.
Has the Pfizer CEO really admitted that the COVID-19 was used as a test?
No, his words are taken out of context. Albert Bourla did not suggest or state that COVID-19 was used as a test. The misquoted claim that COVID-19 was a test is a significant distortion of his words. By referring to the pandemic as “like a rehearsal,” he indicated that it was an unplanned but valuable preparation for future public health challenges.
What are the consequences of spreading misinformation about health-related topics?
Spreading wrong information about health topics can have serious and widespread effects:
- Public health risks: False information can lead people to use untested treatments or ignore good medical advice, which could increase the spread of viruses and lead to unnecessary deaths.
- Vaccine hesitancy: Incorrect details about vaccine safety can make people reluctant for vaccines. This can weaken vaccination drives and cause outbreaks of diseases.
- Erosion of trust: When misinformation continues, it can damage trust in health care organisations and authorities. This makes it harder to deal with health emergencies and put effective health policies in place.
- Diversion of resources: Fighting misinformation takes a lot of time and money, which we can better spend on direct health care and public health efforts.
- Social and political tensions: Misinformation can make social and political disagreements worse, especially when it involves divisive topics or political motives. This can disrupt efforts to respond to public health problems together.
- Mental health impact: Spreading false health information can cause confusion, fear, and anxiety, especially during health crises. This can have a big impact on people’s mental health.
The impact of spreading health-related misinformation is significant, affecting individual health decisions, public health, trust in society, and how we manage health emergencies.
Conclusion
There is no evidence to support the claim that Albert Bourla admitted that COVID-19 was used as a test. The use of “rehearsal” in his speech clearly points to the unforeseen, yet instructive, impact of the pandemic on Pfizer’s operational and strategic capabilities.
This misinterpretation tells us about the dangers of selective quoting and contextual misrepresentation, especially on platforms where misinformation can spread rapidly. It’s important to assess claims carefully on the actual words spoken and in the correct context.
COVID-19 has been the most popular centre of conspiracy theories and misinformation since its onset. There have been viral claims about the inefficacy of COVID vaccines, vaccines causing deadly heart defects, the baseless association between Pfizer’s COVID vaccine and genital herpes, the concerns about vaccines affecting the gut microbiome, and many more. But all of these remain largely false. Vaccines have been vital in saving lives, without a doubt!
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