Florida Attorney General Sues Pfizer for 'Misleading' COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Claims

A legal filing in Florida accuses pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla of deceiving consumers by concealing critical safety risks and unverified transmission claims. Who is Suing? The lawsuit was filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Florida (Department of Legal Affairs), on behalf of the State of Florida, led by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. It alleges that Pfizer violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by misleading the public, hiding internal safety data, and disparaging concerned citizens. Benzinga has reached out to Pfizer for comments and will update the story upon receiving their stance. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has opposed the corporate marketing and forced mandates of the COVID-19 vaccine, publicly accusing drug manufacturers of concealing serious health risks. Aggressive Marketing Campaign Drives Massive Revenue According to the court document, Pfizer spent more than $10 billion on advertising from 2020 to 2023 to build consumer demand for its novel mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This extensive marketing push successfully generated over $80 billion in vaccine sales for the company. During this same period, Bourla earned nearly $102 million in compensation, supplemented by stock profits and book sales. To secure these windfall profits, Pfizer executives conducted media appearances assuring Florida residents the vaccine was completely safe. Bourla publicly declared that the company had not observed a single safety signal. Furthermore, Pfizer pressured consumers by asserting that mass vaccination was a moral duty required to prevent transmitting the virus to loved ones. Complaint Alleges Concealed Safety Risks And Unverified Claims However, the state lawsuit asserts Pfizer possessed internal data reflecting serious safety risks that were hidden from the public. These included links to myocarditis and pericarditis in minors, strokes, and elderly fatalities. The complaint also highlights concerns over adverse events for pregnant women, including miscarriages, which were discussed among Anthony Fauci, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. The filing further claims Pfizer had never tested the vaccine’s effect on transmission when making those moral appeals to consumers. Instead of offering full public transparency, Pfizer actively worked to quash opposition by branding skeptics as criminals, leveraging deceptive practices to protect corporate revenues at the expense of Florida consumers making sensitive medical choices. PFE Price Action: Pfizer shares were down 1.49% at $27.38 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Read Also: SpaceX Is 'Cheap and Getting Cheaper' Morgan Stanley Says Image via Shutterstock