Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, alleging that the company misled the public about the safety and efficacy of its COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Kobach claims that Pfizer made false statements to downplay the health risks associated with the vaccines and exaggerated their effectiveness.
At a press conference in Topeka, Kobach cited a study from February 2022 indicating a higher rate of adverse events among pregnant women who received the vaccine. He noted that Pfizer had internal reports from February 2021 showing significant risks, including a high rate of miscarriages among pregnant women who were vaccinated.
Kobach also pointed to an October 2020 animal study suggesting the vaccine could cause infertility and other reproductive issues. He criticized Pfizer for ignoring early safety signals about the vaccine’s potential to cause myocarditis and pericarditis, conditions involving inflammation of the heart.
Despite these concerns, Pfizer’s CEO publicly denied any evidence linking the vaccine to these heart conditions as recently as January 2023. Kobach accused Pfizer of falsely claiming that its vaccine protected against COVID-19 variants and prevented transmission without sufficient evidence.
The Kansas AG also alleged that Pfizer worked with social media platforms to censor criticism of the vaccines and avoided participating in the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed to escape oversight. Pfizer, which is generally shielded from legal liability for vaccines administered under an Emergency Use Authorization, faces several lawsuits and a grand jury investigation in Florida.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, accusing the company of making unsupported claims about the vaccine and conspiring to suppress public discussion. Paxton’s lawsuit seeks civil penalties of up to $10 million for each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Pfizer has defended its conduct, asserting that its statements about the mRNA vaccine were based on scientific evidence and that the lawsuits lack merit. The legal challenges against Pfizer highlight ongoing concerns about vaccine safety and transparency, and their outcomes could impact public confidence in vaccination programs.
