Fact Check: Pfizer Confirms Covid-Vaccinated People Can “Shed” Spike Protein and Can Harm the Unvaccinated (Debunked!)

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JMJ

 

A member of the SuscipeDomine forum (link to post) repeated a claim that:

 Pfizer Confirms Covid-Vaccinated People Can “Shed” Spike Protein and Can Harm the Unvaccinated October 4, 2021 https://www.algora.com/Algora_blog/2021/10/04/pfizer-confirms-covid-vaccinated-people-can-shed-spike-protein-and-can-harm-the-unvaccinated

I really like claims like this because they are relatively easy to fact-check.  First, the document that was tweeted was a small section of the clinical trial protocol, that can be found here: https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/2020-11/C4591001_Clinical_Protocol_Nov2020.pdf.  The title for section 8 includes Study Assessments and Procedure and the quotation was from section 8.3.5 starting on page 67.

I noticed that everything in that section is centred around the "Study Intervention".  After some review the "study intervention" is the shot that was provided.  Given this is a blinded clinical trial, that two shots contained either the vaccine (dose #1 & #2) or Saline Placebo.

So looking at the section intro section we read:

Exposure to the study intervention under study during pregnancy or breastfeeding and occupational exposure are reportable to Pfizer Safety within 24 hours of investigator awareness.

First observation: This is contact with the vaccine or placebo and says nothing about 'shedding' spike protein.

Second observation: No where does it support the claim that exposure to either the vaccine or placebo harms the unvaccinated.

Third observation: Environmental exposure by inhalation or skin contact is not by 'shedding'
Examples:

1. I am a male healthcare provider and a vial of vaccine or placebo spills on my pant leg.  My wife / mom / sister could come into contact with the vaccine  or placebo by either skin contact or inhalation.
2. I am a female healthcare provider and a vial of vaccine  or placebo spills on my pant leg or I inhale some of the fumes from the vials (they're kept really cold and there would be off gassing when warming).
3. I am a male healthcare provider and a vial of vaccine  or placebo spills on my pant leg.  My wife and I have intercourse.  It is considered an exposure.

These are reportable events and are included in the protocol for are reason. The vaccine at that point is being tested for adverse reactions and they need to keep tabs on everyone who is exposed. Also to maintain the double blind status they have the same requirements for both situations (vaccine vs placebo).

The last part is occupational exposure and it focused on direct contact with the 'study intervention'.

Quote

8.3.5.3. Occupational Exposure: An occupational exposure occurs when a person receives unplanned direct contact with the study intervention, which may or may not lead to the occurrence of an AE.

So nope the actual document doesn't support the claim that:

Covid-Vaccinated People Can “Shed” Spike Protein and Can Harm the Unvaccinated

It is talking about contact with either the vaccine or placebo and does not mention harm anywhere in that section.

 

This conspiracy theory is debunked - - - but people will believe what they want to believe even if the facts don't support it.

 

P^3