BENGALURU: Florida Attorney-General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and its CEO Albert Bourla on Thursday, accusing the pharmaceutical company of misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine.
The lawsuit, filed in state court, alleges that Pfizer assured consumers its vaccine was safe while failing to adequately disclose potential risks, including heart inflammation and other adverse events.
According to the lawsuit, Pfizer also encouraged people to get vaccinated to protect others, despite allegedly not having tested whether its vaccine could prevent transmission of the virus.
Florida further accused the drugmaker of employing unfair tactics to dominate the vaccine market.
The state alleged that Pfizer generated more than US$80 billion (RM330 billion) in vaccine sales before nearly quadrupling the price of its Covid-19 vaccine from US$30 per dose to between US$110 and US$130 in 2023.
The lawsuit, brought under Florida’s consumer protection law, seeks a court order to halt the alleged conduct, fines of US$10,000 per violation or US$15,000 in cases involving harm to seniors or people with disabilities, and the return of profits.
Pfizer rejected the allegations, saying they were without merit and that it would respond to the lawsuit in due course.
“The representations made by Pfizer about its Covid-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based, and the company stands behind the safety and efficacy of its vaccine,“ Pfizer said in a statement.
Responding to a Reuters request for additional comment, the Florida attorney-general’s office said: “The complaint and comments by Florida Attorney-General James Uthmeier speak for themselves.” – Reuters
