There is no evidence that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died as a result of the Pfizer anti-Covid vaccine. The cause of his death has not been publicly disclosed, and as Navalny has been in prison in Russia since January 2021, it is unlikely that he received the Pfizer vaccine, which is not authorized for use in Russia.
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Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists are determined to connect every high-profile death to the anti-Covid vaccine.
The latest victim is the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny On February 16, 2024, the Russian prison service announced that Navalny had passed away in a prison in the northern Arctic Circle, where he was serving a 19-year sentence under ‘special regime’.
A few days after this announcement, a claim is circulating on social media that Navalny died from a blood clot after receiving 5 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. As usual, this claim is unsupported by any evidence, source, or reference.
The source of this claim, which appears sarcastic, is a public figure known as the ‘Aussie Cossack’, a YouTuber previously reported as pro-Putin and used by Russian propaganda to spread disinformation. In a format already identified as a tactic of Russian propaganda, the official Russian media refers to these individuals as sources for the false facts they publish on their pages.
Were the 5 doses of the Pfizer vaccine the cause of death?
As of the publication date of this article, February 22, 2024, the cause of Navalny’s death remains undisclosed. The autopsy results have not yet been disclosed. His family has stated that they were informed by Russian authorities that Navalny’s body will be retained for two weeks for ‘chemical analysis’. Legally, Russian authorities can retain the body for up to 30 days.
The announcement by Russian authorities does not mention anywhere that Navalny’s death is related to vaccination:
On February 16, 2024, in penal colony number 3, the prisoner Alexei Navalny felt unwell after a walk and lost consciousness shortly afterward.
The medical staff of the institution arrived immediately, and an ambulance was called.
All necessary resuscitation measures were taken, but they did not yield positive results. The ambulance doctors declared the prisoner dead.
The cause of death is being determined.
Did Navalny receive 5 doses of the Pfizer vaccine?
The claim that Navalny had received 5 doses of the Pfizer vaccine also remains unsubstantiated.
In fact, it is unlikely that Navalny had received any doses of the Pfizer vaccine, as the Pfizer vaccine has never been approved for use in Russia.
Navalny was urgently hospitalized in Germany after being poisoned with chemical agents in December 2020. He returned to Russia on January 17, 2021, and was immediately arrested and imprisoned. Vaccination for his age group started in Germany on May 17, 2021, so he could not have been vaccinated with Pfizer during his time in Germany.
Could Navalny have died from 5 doses of the Pfizer vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the (rare) risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving the vaccine primarily exists in adolescent and young adult males. Navalny was 47 years old when he passed away.
Furthermore, the cases of myocarditis/pericarditis reported after vaccination usually occurred within a week of vaccination. Even if Navalny were fully vaccinated, his last doses would have been taken over two years ago.
