Manufacturers have released information on the safety and efficacy of their COVID-19 vaccines since the early stages of development. But online, some claim “vaccine death data" was recently published by hackers.
“Hackers Crack Pfizer, Moderna & Pfizer Servers!” reads a headline shared to Instagram on Feb. 2. “All Vaccine Death Data Now Public From All companies Thanks to Hackers!”
The headline, which accumulated more than 800 likes on Instagram within a week, stems from a Jan. 6 article published by Before It’s News. As evidence, the website cites data from the Vaccine Adverse Reporting System, which public health officials use to track potential side effects associated with authorized vaccines.
Before It’s News, a site that has previously shared misinformation, claims the data shows deaths, disabilities and toxicity levels associated with each “bad batch” of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.
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But there’s no evidence Pfizer and Moderna’s servers were hacked, as independent fact-checking organizations have reported. The data behind the claim is publicly available. And the data referenced is also unverified, as anyone can submit claims without any proof of causality.
USA TODAY reached out to the Instagram user who shared the claim and Before It’s News for comment.
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