Summarised by Centrist
The US state of Kansas has launched a high-stakes lawsuit against Pfizer, accusing the pharmaceutical giant of deceiving the public about the true safety and efficacy of its COVID vaccine.
The lawsuit claims Pfizer violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by making false statements and concealing evidence of potential risks associated with the vaccine.
According to the lawsuit, Pfizer allegedly hid evidence linking the vaccine to pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and inflammation conditions like myocarditis and pericarditis.
In response, Pfizer maintained that its representations about the vaccine were accurate and science-based, dismissing the lawsuit as baseless.
Notably, in June 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration added a warning about myocarditis and pericarditis to the vaccine’s label, highlighting these as rare side effects primarily affecting adolescent boys and young men.
Further, Kansas contends that Pfizer falsely asserted the vaccine’s high effectiveness against COVID variants and its ability to prevent transmission of the virus.
The state’s Attorney General Kris Kobach mentioned that other states have been working with Kansas in its investigation and are expected to file their own lawsuits.
BioNTech, Pfizer’s German partner in vaccine development, is not named as a defendant in this case.
