CEO of Pfizer didnt refuse his own COVID-19 vaccine; he took both doses – OregonLive

The Associated Press checks out some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. This one is bogus, even though it was shared widely on social media. Here are the facts:

CLAIM: The CEO of Pfizer refuses to get the COVID vaccine.

THE FACTS: A video on social media is trying to spread doubt about COVID-19 vaccines by falsely claiming Albert Bourla, the chairman and CEO of Pfizer, refuses to get the vaccine his company created.

In fact, he has already received two shots. Albert Bourla received his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on March 10, 2021, Pfizer spokesperson Faith Salamon told The Associated Press in an email.

Bourla tweeted a photo of him receiving his second shot on March 10.

Excited to receive my 2nd dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech#COVID19 vaccine, his post reads. Theres nothing I want more than for my loved ones and people around the world to have the same opportunity.

A popular video that includes the false banner, PFEIZER CEO REFUSES VACCINE, has been shared thousands of times on Facebook.

The name of the company is misspelled and some of the letters in the word vaccine have been replaced with an image of a coronavirus particle and a syringe. The video includes a clip of an interview Bourla did with CNBC on Dec. 14, but the video does not note the date.

In that interview, host Meg Tirrell asked when Bourla planned to get the shot. In his response, Bourla never refused to get the vaccine -- he simply noted that, at the time, it wasnt yet his turn.

As soon as I can, I will. The only sensitivity here, Meg, is that I dont want to have an example that Im cutting the line, Bourla said, according to the CNBC transcript. He went on to say he was 59, in good health, and not a frontline worker. My type is not recommended to get vaccination right now, Bourla said.

Originally posted here:

CEO of Pfizer didnt refuse his own COVID-19 vaccine; he took both doses - OregonLive