Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and Chief Executive Albert Bourla, accusing the pharmaceutical company of misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine.
The case, filed in a Florida state court, alleges that Pfizer promoted the vaccine as safe without adequately disclosing potential risks, including heart inflammation and other reported adverse events.
The lawsuit also challenges Pfizer’s messaging about transmission. According to Florida’s allegations, the company encouraged people to receive the vaccine partly to protect others from the virus, despite not having conducted trials specifically designed to determine whether the vaccine prevented transmission.
Florida has further accused Pfizer of using its position in the vaccine market in ways that violated the state’s consumer protection laws.
The complaint points to the company’s vaccine revenue, alleging that Pfizer generated more than $80 billion from COVID-19 vaccine sales. It also claims the price of the vaccine increased sharply in 2023, rising from about $30 per dose to between $110 and $130.
Under Florida’s consumer protection law, the state is seeking a court order to halt the conduct described in its complaint. It is also seeking financial penalties of up to $10,000 for each alleged violation, with penalties potentially reaching $15,000 where senior citizens or people with disabilities were affected. The state is additionally seeking the return of profits tied to the alleged violations.
Pfizer has rejected the allegations, saying the claims lack merit. The company said its statements about the COVID-19 vaccine were based on scientific evidence and maintained that the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness were accurately represented.
The lawsuit now places Pfizer’s vaccine marketing and public messaging at the centre of a legal dispute that will be examined by a Florida court.
