CoronaVirus/Pfizer

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Vaccine makers have nothing to lose past marketing their experimental COVID-19 shots, even if they cause serious injury and death, as they enjoy full indemnity confronting injuries occurring from COVID-19 vaccines or whatsoever other pandemic vaccine under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Human activity, passed in the U.S. in 2005.

The total extent of their COVID-19 vaccine indemnification agreements with countries, nonetheless, is a closely guarded cloak-and-dagger, one that has remained highly confidential — until now. A leaked certificate broken downward by Twitter user Ehden reveals the shocking terms of Pfizer's international COVID-19 vaccine agreements. He wrote:

"These agreements are confidential, but luckily one state did non protect the contract document well plenty, and so I managed to get a agree of a copy. Equally you lot are about to see, at that place is a good reason why Pfizer was fighting to hide the details of these contracts."

An ironclad agreement, all on Pfizer'due south terms

The alleged indemnification understanding, reportedly between Pfizer and Albania, was originally posted in snippets on Twitter, merely Twitter now has them marked every bit "unavailable." Copies of the tweets are bachelor on Treadreader, still.

The Albania agreement appears very similar to some other contract, published online, betwixt Pfizer and the Dominican Commonwealth. It covers not just COVID-19 vaccines, but any product that enhances the use or effects of such vaccines. Countries that purchase Pfizer'southward COVID-nineteen shot must acknowledge that "Pfizer's efforts to develop and manufacture the Product" are "subject to significant risks and uncertainties."

And in the result that a drug or other treatment comes out that can forbid, treat or cure COVID-nineteen, the agreement stands, and the country must follow through with their social club. Ivermectin , for instance, is not only safe, inexpensive and widely available but has been found to reduce COVID-nineteen mort ality by 81% . Yet, it continues to be ignored in favor of more expensive, and less effective, treatments and mass experimental vaccination. Ehden wrote:

"If you were wondering why #Ivermectin was suppressed, well, it is because the agreement that countries had with Pfizer does not allow them to escape their contract, which states that even if a drug volition exist found to care for COVID19 the contract cannot be voided."

Even if Pfizer fails to evangelize vaccine doses within their estimated delivery catamenia, the purchaser may not abolish the club. Further, Pfizer can brand adjustments to the number of contracted doses and their delivery schedule, "based on principles to exist determined past Pfizer," and the country buying the vaccines must "agree to any revision."

It doesn't matter if the vaccines are delivered severely late, fifty-fifty at a point when they're no longer needed, every bit it's made clear that

"Under no circumstances volition Pfizer be subject to or liable for whatsoever late delivery penalties." As you might suspect, the contract also "forbids returns under any circumstances."

The big hole-and-corner: Pfizer charged U.S. More than Than Other Countries

While COVID-19 vaccines are "gratis" to receive in the U.S., they're being paid for by taxpayer dollars at a rate of $19.5011 per dose. Albania, the leaked contract revealed, paid $12 per dose, while the EU paid $14.70 per shot. While charging dissimilar prices to different purchases is common in the drug industry, it'southward often frowned upon.

In the case of the price disparity between the U.Due south. and the EU, Pfizer is said to have given a toll suspension to the EU considering it financially supported the development of their COVID-nineteen vaccine. Withal, Ehden noted, "U.S. taxpayers got screwed by Pfizer, probably also Israel." Too, Pfizer makes a point to note that countries have no correct to withhold payment to the company for any reason.

Patently, this includes in the case of receiving damaged appurtenances. Purchasers of Pfizer'due south COVID-19 vaccines are not entitled to reject them "based on service complaints," unless they do not conform to specifications or the FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations. And, Ehden adds, "This agreement is above any local police of the state."

While the purchaser has virtually no manner of canceling the contract, Pfizer can terminate the agreement in the upshot of a "material breach" of whatever term in their contract.

Safety and efficacy 'not currently known'

The purchaser of Pfizer'due south COVID-xix vaccine must besides acknowledge ii facts that have largely been brushed under the rug: Both their efficacy and risks are unknown. According to department 5.5 of the contract:

"Purchaser acknowledges that the Vaccine and materials related to the Vaccine, and their components and constituent materials are beingness rapidly developed due to the emergency circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be studied afterwards provision of the Vaccine to Purchaser under this Agreement.

"Purchaser further acknowledges that the long-term effects and efficacy of the Vaccine are non currently known and that in that location may be adverse effects of the Vaccine that are not currently known."

Indemnification by the purchaser is also explicitly required past the contract, which states, under section 8.1:

"Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pfizer, BioNTech, each of their Affiliates, contractors, sub-contractors, licensors, licensees, sub-licensees, distributors, contract manufacturers, services providers, clinical trial researchers, 3rd parties to whom Pfizer or BioNTech or any of their respective Affiliates may directly or indirectly owe an indemnity based on the research ...
"from and against whatever and all suits, claims, actions, demands, losses, amercement, liabilities, settlements, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses of an investigation or litigation ... arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Vaccine ..."

Meanwhile, the purchaser must also go along the terms of the contract confidential for a period of ten years.

Not only does Pfizer have full indemnification, simply there's also a section in the contract titled, "Supposition of Defence force by Purchaser," which states that in the event Pfizer suffers losses for which it is seeking indemnification, the purchaser

"shall promptly presume conduct and control of the defence of such Indemnified Claims on behalf of the Indemnitee with counsel acceptable to Indemnitee(s), whether or non the Indemnified Claim is rightfully brought."

Ehden notes:

"Pfizer is making sure the state will pay for everything: 'Costs and expenses, including ... fees and disbursements of counsel, incurred by the Indemnitee(s) in connection with any Indemnified Merits shall exist reimbursed on a quarterly ground past Purchaser.'"

Buried in the March 17, 2020, Federal Register — the daily journal of the U.S. authorities — in a document titled, "Annunciation Nether the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Deed for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19," is language that establishes a new COVID-19 vaccine courtroom — similar to the federal vaccine court that already exists.

In the U.South., vaccine makers already enjoy full indemnity confronting injuries occurring from this or any other pandemic vaccine nether the PREP Act. If you lot're injured by a COVID vaccine (or a select group of other vaccines designated under the act), you'd have to file a compensation claim with the Countermeasures Injury Bounty Plan (CICP), which is funded by U.Due south. taxpayers via Congressional appropriation to the Department of Health and Man Services (DHHS).

While similar to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), which applies to nonpandemic vaccines, the CICP is even less generous when it comes to bounty. Every bit reported by Dr. Meryl Nass, the maximum payout you tin can receive — even in cases of permanent disability or decease — is $250,000 per person; however, you'd take to exhaust your private insurance policy before the CICP gives you lot a dime.

The CICP besides has a 1-year statute of limitations, then you lot have to deed quickly, which is also difficult since it's unknown if long-term effects could occur more than than a year later.

Pfizer accused of corruption of power

As is credible in Pfizer'southward confidential contract with Republic of albania, the drug giant wants governments to guarantee the company volition be compensated for whatsoever expenses resulting from injury lawsuits against information technology. Pfizer has also demanded that countries put up sovereign avails , including bank reserves, war machine bases and embassy buildings, as collateral for expected vaccine injury lawsuits resulting from its COVID-nineteen inoculation.

New Delhi-based World Is 1 News (WION) reported in February 2021 that Brazil rejected Pfizer's demands, calling them "abusive." The demands included that Brazil:

  1. "Waives sovereignty of its avails abroad in favor of Pfizer."
  2. Not apply its domestic laws to the company.
  3. Not penalize Pfizer for vaccine delivery delays.
  4. Exempt Pfizer from all civil liability for side furnishings.

STAT News also referred to concerns by legal experts, who likewise suggested Pfizer's demands were an abuse of power. Mark Eccleston-Turner, a lecturer in global health law at Keele Academy in England, told STAT:

"[Pfizer] is trying to eke out equally much profit and minimize its risk at every juncture with this vaccine development then this vaccine rollout. Now, the vaccine development has been heavily subsidized already. So there's very minimal risk for the manufacturer involved there."

Signs of COVID vaccine failure, agin effects rise

Pfizer continues to sign lucrative secret vaccine deals beyond the earth. In June 2021, they signed one of their biggest contracts to date — with the Philippine government for 40 million doses .

Meanwhile, COVID-19 "breakthrough cases," which used to be called vaccine failures, are on the rise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 19, 5,914 people who had been fully vaccinated for COVID-nineteen were hospitalized or died from COVID-19.

In the U.K., as of July xv, 87.five% of the developed population had received i dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 67.1% had received two. Yet, symptomatic cases among partially and fully vaccinated are on the ascension , with an average of 15,537 new infections a day beingness detected, a 40% increment from the week earlier.

In a July 19 report from the CDC, the bureau also reported that the Vaccine Adverse Upshot Reporting Organisation (VAERS) had received 12,313 reports of death among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine — more than than doubling from the 6,079 reports of decease from the calendar week before.

Soon after the report, however, they reverted the number to the 6,079 from the week earlier, indicating by default that no deaths from the vaccine had occurred that week, raising serious questions about transparency and vaccine safe.

Many other adverse events are as well appearing, ranging in risks from the biologically active SARS-CoV-2 spike protein used in the vaccine to blood clots, reproductive toxicity and myocarditis ( eye inflammation ). As you tin can run across in the confidential indemnification agreements, however, even if the vaccine turns out to be a dismal failure — and a hazard to short- and long-term health — countries have no recourse, nor does anyone who received the experimental shots.

One question that we should all exist asking is this: If the COVID-19 vaccines are, in fact, as safe and constructive equally the manufacturers claim, why do they crave this level of indemnification?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and practise not necessarily reverberate the views of Children'south Health Defense.