Pfizer has issued an apology promoting an unlicensed COVID-19 vaccine

“Pfizer has issued an apology after being found in violation of multiple regulatory codes by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA). The pharmaceutical giant, accused of "bringing discredit" to the industry, was penalized for promoting an unlicensed COVID-19 vaccine on social media during the height of the pandemic.

The controversy began with a tweet from Dr. Berkley Phillips, Pfizer's medical director, who claimed their vaccine was "95% effective in preventing COVID and 94% effective in people over 65 years old." This tweet, retweeted by several UK employees, lacked crucial safety data and misled the public by omitting absolute efficacy rates and potential adverse reactions. The PMCPA found Pfizer in breach of five clauses of the 2019 Code, including promoting unlicensed medicine and failing to maintain high standards.

Pfizer's defense, that the tweet was "accidental and unintentional," was overshadowed by the PMCPA's ruling. The watchdog imposed a fine of £34,800 ($43,698.36) on Pfizer, which acknowledged the issues and expressed deep regret.

The PMCPA highlighted that the tweet, containing limited information about the vaccine's efficacy and no safety data, resulted in unlicensed medicine being promoted to health professionals and the public. This incident marked the sixth time Pfizer had been reprimanded by the UK drug regulator, with previous violations including misleading statements on children's vaccines.

In response to the ruling, Pfizer launched a review of its employees' use of social media to ensure compliance with regulatory codes. The company claimed to take its commitment to the code seriously, conducting thorough investigations and implementing comprehensive policies on personal use of social media.

Ben Kingsley of UsForThem, a campaign group, criticized the regulatory system, calling for reform. He pointed out that Pfizer's repeated breaches, including the most serious offence under the UK Code of Practice, highlighted the inadequacy of the current system. David Watson of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for high standards and accountability.

The world put their trust in Big Pharma, but that trust has been broken. Pfizer's actions during the pandemic, from censoring dissenting voices to attempting to hide side effects for 75 years, have damaged the industry's credibility. The company made thousands of dollars a minute as they rolled out their vaccines, prioritizing profit over transparency.

Is being sorry enough? Pfizer's apology, while necessary, does not address the broader issues of trust and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. The repeated breaches and regulatory failures call for a comprehensive overhaul to restore public confidence. The industry must learn from these mistakes and commit to higher standards to avoid further discredit and ensure the health and safety of the public—or be dismantled all together.” #sorry