Misleading

Did Pfizer Publish a List of COVID Vaccine Side Effects?

After its introduction to combat COVID-19 in late 2020, the Pfizer vaccine and its side effects have faced scrutiny and speculation. Recently, a viral claim circulated on social media stating that Pfizer had issued an updated list of side effects for its COVID-19 vaccine. This claim gained significant attention across platforms, leading to online discussions and concerns. However, Fact Crescendo investigated the claim and found it to be misleading.

Social Media Claim

A Facebook post claiming that Pfizer has just officially released its list of side effects for its COVID-19 vaccine was recently shared by users. The post, accompanied by sensational language, suggested that Pfizer’s official release exposed new and alarming side effects, leading to even more interest in the topic.

The following screenshot shows the post mentioned above, accompanied by the caption: “Karma has no expiration date. PFIZER JUST RELEASED ITS LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS FOR ITS COVID-19 VACCINE💉”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

This claim has also been found in another Facebook post, sparking widespread interest and generating a flurry of reactions among social media users, igniting debates across various platforms.

For more information and specifics regarding this post, the details can be found below.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The same screenshot, along with the identical claim, has also been shared by another Threads user.

This repetition highlights the viral nature of the claim and its ability to spread across different platforms, with the claim stating, “PFIZER JUST RELEASED IT’S LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS OF ITS “COVID-19 VACCINE” …….and the list of some side effects of the Pfizer-Biontech Covid-19 Vaccine. TAKE-HEED!”.

Threads Post | Archived Link

Such claims have also been recently posted and found on X, with various users discussing their authenticity.

X Post | Archived Link

Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention, it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo has begun debunking the above claim by verifying it through reliable sources, including keyword searches and recent news, as well as Pfizer’s clarification on the matter.

A Google search for “Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine side effects” led us to a study on common side effects of the vaccines which was conducted in Pakistan in 2023.

The study concluded that the most frequent adverse effects were burning at the injection site, fever, pain at the injection site, muscle pain, swelling, and joint pain, with more side effects occurring after the first dose than the second. Read the full article here and the archived link here.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clearly described the possible side effects of the Pfizer vaccine for all age groups. Below is the screenshot of the common side effects for 6 months to 3 years old and 4 years to 17 years old.

Below is the screenshot of the following are the common side effects for the age groups of 18 years old and above.

CDC Link | Achieved Link

Are “Adverse Events” distinct from “Side Effects”?

We found that not all adverse events are side effects. A instruction published by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia explains adverse events are health problems that occur after vaccination, but they aren’t necessarily caused by the vaccine.

Side effects, on the other hand, are specific adverse events directly linked to the vaccine. While all side effects are adverse events, not all adverse events are caused by the vaccine itself. Read the full article here and the archived link here.

Responded to Fact Crescendo’s inquiry via email, Pfizer’s Medical Information Service in Thailand referred us to a study of the effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in “Undesirable Effects” published by WHO. Read the full article here and the archived link here.

Below is the summary list of common adverse reactions summarized from “Undesirable Effects” published by WHO:

For Participants Aged 12 to 15:

Injection site pain: > 90%
Fatigue and headache: > 70%
Myalgia and chills: > 40%
Arthralgia and pyrexia: > 20%

These reactions were generally mild to moderate in intensity and typically resolved within a few days. Additionally, older participants reported slightly fewer reactogenicity events.

For Participants Aged 16 and Older:

Injection site pain: > 80%
Fatigue: > 60%
Headache: > 50%
Myalgia (muscle pain): > 40%
Chills: > 30%
Arthralgia (joint pain): > 20%
Pyrexia (fever) and injection site swelling: > 10%

Upon checking, we have seen The Pfizer document labels these medical conditions as “adverse events” rather than “side effects.” This distinction is important because adverse events refer to any health issues that happen after vaccination, regardless of whether the vaccine caused them.

On the other hand, side effects are specifically proven to be caused by the vaccine. By listing them as adverse events, Pfizer is noting health issues reported by recipients without confirming a direct link to the vaccine itself. This helps in transparent reporting and ongoing safety monitoring.

(See the following screenshot captured from the Pfizer document)

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Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found that the claim, accompanied by the photo posted on social media, is misleading. Pfizer has not published a new list of COVID-19 vaccine side effects; adverse events are health problems reported after vaccination but not necessarily caused by it, whereas side effects are health issues proven to be caused by the vaccine.