Thread by @mediawise

You’ve probably heard that pharmaceutical company @pfizer has announced that early analysis of its coronavirus vaccine suggests that the vaccine is more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. nytimes.com/2020/11/09/hea…

There has already been A LOT of speculation about the timing of the announcement and #Election2020. REMEMBER: speculation without evidence is how baseless conspiracy theories are born.

So, let’s stick to the facts: @pfizer is not a part of Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to develop a vaccine. Kathrin Jansen, the head of vaccine research and development, said politics does not drive how Pfizer conducts itself. @nytimes nytimes.com/2020/11/09/hea…

Although @pfizer is not a part of Operation Warp Speed, it’s worth noting that they did sign a $1.95 billion contract with the federal government to deliver 100 million doses following the vaccine’s successful manufacture and approval. hhs.gov/about/news/202…

Keep in mind that the conversation around a COVID-19 vaccine is highly politicized. That means that politicians have a lot to gain from persuading you to think one way or another about the development and distribution of the vaccine.

If you want to stay informed about a potential coronavirus vaccine, make sure you’re reading AT LEAST 3-4 credible, unbiased sources. For accurate information on the safety of a vaccine, consult groups like @US_FDA and @CDCgov.

The development of an effective, safe coronavirus vaccine is exciting, but spreading vaccine misinformation can reduce people’s trust in the development process and likelihood that they’ll get the vaccine. Make sure you fact-check COVID-19 claims and #ThinkBeforeYouShare.