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TB Bacteria in COVID Vaccines? Malaysia Debunks Hoax
27 Feb
Summary
- False claims linked tuberculosis bacteria to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.
- Pfizer confirmed its vaccine is synthetic and contains no live bacteria.
- Malaysia logged over 3,000 tuberculosis infections since January 2026.
Recent social media posts circulating in Malaysia falsely claimed that tuberculosis bacteria were deliberately inserted into Pfizer's Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. These claims, attributed to retired microbiologist Sucharit Bhakdi, emerged as Malaysia recorded more than 3,000 tuberculosis infections since January 2026.
Pfizer has unequivocally denied these allegations, with a spokesperson confirming in an email dated February 25, 2026, that its COVID-19 vaccine is entirely synthetic and contains no live bacteria. The World Health Organization's publicly available ingredient list for the vaccine also does not include tuberculosis bacteria. Virologist Professor Dong-Yan Jin further clarified that mRNA vaccines contain mRNA, not live pathogens like the bacteria causing tuberculosis.
Health authorities in Malaysia have urged the public to take preventive measures against tuberculosis, such as wearing masks and seeking medical attention for persistent coughs. Tuberculosis has been endemic in Malaysia since the early 20th century, with the BCG vaccine administered to newborns since 1961. However, the disease is not associated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which has been distributed globally and maintains a proven safety and efficacy profile.
