The hashtag “pfertility” trended on social media in response to video footage released by a right-wing activist group known for producing deceptively edited video clips. In the heavily edited clip, a purported Pfizer employee expresses concern about women’s reproductive health following COVID-19 vaccination. The unedited footage has not been released, so the context of the conversation is unclear. All that can be seen are several snippets of a conversation edited together, including the phrases: “Something irregular about their menstrual cycles,” “…concerning…” “vaccine shouldn’t be interfering…” and “It has to be affecting something hormonal…”
The sensitive topic of this misinformation and the widespread reach of the video elevates the risk. Emphasizing the source’s lack of credibility and the absence of evidence to support the claims in the video is recommended. Multiple large studies have shown no change in fertility or pregnancy outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination. Messaging may explain that minor, temporary changes in the menstrual cycle are a possible side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, similar to other mild side effects like a sore arm or headache. An NIH study found that vaccine recipients had a slightly longer time (less than one day) between periods shortly after being vaccinated. The change was so slight that they were considered within the normal range of menstrual cycle variation.
