Image of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in mask was taken in 2020, not 2023 | Fact check

Chris Mueller, USA TODAY
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The claim: Image shows Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla wearing a mask in November 2023

A Nov. 15 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a group gathered around a conference table wearing black masks with white lettering that reads, "Science will win."

"Look at #CEO of #Pfizer and his buddies still masking up," reads the post's caption. "The second one the left (sic) is wearing two masks. I can guarantee the second photo was done their masks all come off. This is all for show!"

Two pieces of text in the image read, "CEO Albert Bourla," and "Wearing a mask in November 2023."

A similar Instagram post was liked more than 600 times in one day before it was deleted.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-CheckTeam:

Our rating: False

The image in question is from 2020. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla posted the image on X, formerly Twitter, on Nov. 9. However, Bourla's post clearly states the image was taken "three years ago today," referring to Nov. 9, 2020.

Photo was taken in 2020, not 2023

Bourla posted the image Nov. 9 on X with a caption that begins, "Three years ago today, we were able to share with the world the joyous news that our #COVID19 vaccine was highly effective in preventing disease."

On Nov. 9, 2020, Pfizer announced that early study results showed its COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective at preventing infection.

"This photo was taken moments after we received the good news from our R&D team, and you can see the smiles through our masks," Bourla wrote in his X post.

Fact check: False claim that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is resigning, admitted vaccines are unsafe

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine became available in the U.S. on Dec. 11, 2020, when the Food and Drug Administration authorized it for emergency use. It received full approval about eight months later.

USA TODAY has previously debunked numerous false claims about Bourla, including that he resigned and admitted mRNA vaccines weren't safe, that he refused the COVID-19 vaccine and that a video shows him talking about microchips in pills. False claims that he was arrested have also spread online.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

PolitiFact also debunked the claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim image shows Pfizer CEO wearing mask in 2023 | Fact check