Pfizer Faces Probe Over Alleged COVID-19 Vaccine Delay

An investigation has been launched into allegations that Pfizer intentionally delayed the announcement of its successful COVID-19 vaccine until after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The claim was made by a high-level scientist who previously worked at Pfizer and later joined GSK. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office has interviewed at least two individuals, including a GSK executive who recorded a conversation with the former Pfizer scientist, Phil Dormitzer. Dormitzer, who was responsible for Pfizer's viral vaccine development, has since left GSK.

The allegations suggest that Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies viewed the development of a COVID-19 vaccine as a high-stakes race, with the potential for significant financial rewards and reputational gains. Pfizer, along with eight other pharmaceutical companies, had signed a pledge not to seek government approval for any COVID-19 vaccine until it was proven safe and effective. The timing of Pfizer's announcement, which came just days after Joe Biden's election victory, has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about political motivations.

Donald Trump has long maintained that Pfizer deliberately delayed the release of positive clinical trial results, which he believed could have bolstered public confidence in his administration's pandemic response and potentially influenced the election outcome. Trump's frustration with Pfizer's timing was evident in his social media posts following the election, where he accused the company of delaying the announcement until after the election.

Pfizer's CEO, Albert Bourla, and other high-ranking executives have attempted to mend fences with Trump, participating in fundraising events and planning high-level meetings at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Despite these efforts, Trump has reportedly questioned Bourla directly about the timing of the vaccine release, to which Bourla denied any delay.

The investigation into these allegations is ongoing, with prosecutors focusing on statements made by Dormitzer to GSK executives in late 2024. Dormitzer has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that he and his colleagues at Pfizer worked tirelessly to obtain FDA emergency use authorization as soon as possible. Pfizer has also denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the development of the vaccine was driven by science and guided by the FDA.

The controversy surrounding the timing of Pfizer's vaccine announcement highlights the complex interplay between science, politics, and public health during a global pandemic. As the investigation continues, the public and regulatory bodies await further clarity on the motivations behind the vaccine's release and the potential implications for future public health crises.