Summarised by Centrist
A US federal court judge has dismissed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Pfizer, which alleged the company misled the public about its COVID vaccine’s effectiveness.
Judge Sam R. Cummings ruled that Pfizer is protected by the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act), granting immunity to vaccine makers during emergencies like the pandemic.
Cummings stated that the case fell under federal protections designed to shield pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits during such times.
In 2023, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a county court lawsuit accusing Pfizer of misrepresenting the efficacy of its COVID vaccine. The lawsuit stated: “The risk of acquiring COVID-19 was so small in the first instance during this short window that Pfizer’s vaccine only fractionally improved a person’s risk of infection.”
The suit alleged the company’s advertised 95% effectiveness rate was based on only two months of clinical trial data, which Paxton’s team claimed showed minimal differences between vaccinated and placebo groups. They further argued that immunity under the PREP Act should not shield intentional misrepresentations.
Pfizer argued that the PREP Act provides sweeping protection for vaccine makers. The company noted that previous rulings confirmed this legal immunity, supporting its case for dismissal.
The US government recently extended the immunity granted to vaccine manufacturers, pushing the deadline to 2029.
Read more over at The Epoch Times
Image: Ministério da Saúde
