A post shared on Facebook purports Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel was arrested by the U.S. Special Forces on murder charges.

Verdict: False

The claim stems from a satirical website. There is no evidence that Bancel was arrested by the Special Forces on charges of murder.

Fact Check:

Bancel said not everyone will need an annual COVID-19 booster during a recent event, comparing the booster to an annual flu shot if people choose to get it, Yahoo Finance reported. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized bivalent boosters of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines back in August, according to the agency’s press release.

The Facebook post purports Bancel was arrested by the Special Forces Oct. 30 after being lured into a meeting with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky, who did not show up. Bancel was allegedly arrested for murder as a result of deaths purportedly linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, the post claims.

The claim is false. There are no credible news reports suggesting Bancel was arrested by the Special Forces on murder charges. Likewise, Moderna has not mentioned the purported claim in any recent press releases or statements published to their verified social media accounts. The U.S. Army also has not publicly commented on the claim.

A keyword search reveals the claim stems from a Nov. 7 article published on the website, “Real Raw News.” The site includes a disclaimer on its “About Us” page indicating it contains “humor, parody, and satire.” (RELATED: Did The UK Ban The COVID-19 Vaccine Due To Health Concerns?)

Check Your Fact has contacted Moderna and U.S. Army spokespersons for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.

This is not the first time a satirical post has been promoted as true online. Check Your Fact previously debunked a post claiming a U.S. submarine was near the Nord Stream pipeline when it exploded in an effort to blame Russia.