CoronaVirus/Pfizer

© Shutterstock, screenshot/Pfizer/KJN

Vaccine makers have nil to lose by marketing their experimental COVID-19 shots, even if they cause serious injury and death, equally they enjoy full indemnity confronting injuries occurring from COVID-xix vaccines or any other pandemic vaccine under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, passed in the U.South. in 2005.

The full extent of their COVID-nineteen vaccine indemnification agreements with countries, withal, is a closely guarded secret, one that has remained highly confidential — until at present. A leaked document broken downwards past Twitter user Ehden reveals the shocking terms of Pfizer's international COVID-nineteen vaccine agreements. He wrote:

"These agreements are confidential, only luckily one country did not protect the contract document well enough, so I managed to get a concord of a copy. Equally you are about to meet, in that location is a skilful reason why Pfizer was fighting to hide the details of these contracts."

An ironclad agreement, all on Pfizer'due south terms

The alleged indemnification agreement, reportedly betwixt Pfizer and Albania, was originally posted in snippets on Twitter, but Twitter now has them marked as "unavailable." Copies of the tweets are bachelor on Treadreader, withal.

The Albania understanding appears very similar to another contract, published online, between Pfizer and the Dominican Democracy. It covers non only COVID-xix vaccines, but whatever product that enhances the apply or effects of such vaccines. Countries that purchase Pfizer's COVID-xix shot must admit that "Pfizer's efforts to develop and industry the Product" are "subject to pregnant risks and uncertainties."

And in the event that a drug or other treatment comes out that can prevent, care for or cure COVID-nineteen, the agreement stands, and the country must follow through with their order. Ivermectin , for instance, is non only safety, inexpensive and widely bachelor but has been found to reduce COVID-19 mort ality past 81% . Yet, it continues to be ignored in favor of more expensive, and less effective, treatments and mass experimental vaccination. Ehden wrote:

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

Even if Pfizer fails to deliver vaccine doses within their estimated delivery period, the purchaser may not cancel the gild. Farther, Pfizer tin can brand adjustments to the number of contracted doses and their delivery schedule, "based on principles to be determined by Pfizer," and the state buying the vaccines must "agree to whatsoever revision."

It doesn't matter if the vaccines are delivered severely late, even at a betoken when they're no longer needed, as it's made clear that

"Nether no circumstances will Pfizer exist subject to or liable for whatever late delivery penalties." Equally you might suspect, the contract likewise "forbids returns nether any circumstances."

The large cloak-and-dagger: Pfizer charged U.S. More than Than Other Countries

While COVID-19 vaccines are "free" to receive in the U.S., they're being paid for past taxpayer dollars at a charge per unit 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's often frowned upon.

In the case of the price disparity between the U.S. and the EU, Pfizer is said to have given a toll break to the European union because it financially supported the evolution of their COVID-19 vaccine. Yet, Ehden noted, "U.S. taxpayers got screwed by Pfizer, probably also Israel." Too, Pfizer makes a bespeak to note that countries have no right to withhold payment to the company for whatever reason.

Apparently, this includes in the case of receiving damaged appurtenances. Purchasers of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines are not entitled to pass up them "based on service complaints," unless they exercise not adjust to specifications or the FDA's Current Expert Manufacturing Practice regulations. And, Ehden adds, "This agreement is higher up any local police force of the state."

While the purchaser has nigh no way of canceling the contract, Pfizer tin terminate the understanding in the event of a "material breach" of whatsoever term in their contract.

Safety and efficacy 'non currently known'

The purchaser of Pfizer'southward COVID-nineteen vaccine must as well acknowledge ii facts that have largely been brushed under the rug: Both their efficacy and risks are unknown. According to section v.v of the contract:

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

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

Indemnification by the purchaser is also explicitly required past the contract, which states, under section 8.i:

"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, tertiary 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, damages, 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 likewise proceed the terms of the contract confidential for a period of 10 years.

Not only does Pfizer take total indemnification, merely in that location'due south also a section in the contract titled, "Supposition of Defense by Purchaser," which states that in the effect Pfizer suffers losses for which it is seeking indemnification, the purchaser

"shall promptly assume acquit and control of the defense of such Indemnified Claims on behalf of the Indemnitee with counsel acceptable to Indemnitee(s), whether or not the Indemnified Claim is rightfully brought."

Ehden notes:

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

Cached in the March 17, 2020, Federal Register — the daily journal of the U.S. government — in a document titled, "Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-nineteen," is language that establishes a new COVID-xix vaccine courtroom — similar to the federal vaccine court that already exists.

In the U.S., vaccine makers already bask total indemnity against injuries occurring from this or any other pandemic vaccine under the PREP Deed. If y'all're injured by a COVID vaccine (or a select grouping of other vaccines designated under the act), yous'd have to file a compensation claim with the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Programme (CICP), which is funded by U.S. taxpayers via Congressional appropriation to the Department of Wellness and Human Services (DHHS).

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

The CICP also has a one-year statute of limitations, so yous accept to human activity quickly, which is also hard since it'southward unknown if long-term effects could occur more than than a year subsequently.

Pfizer accused of abuse of power

As is credible in Pfizer's confidential contract with Albania, the drug giant wants governments to guarantee the visitor will be compensated for any expenses resulting from injury lawsuits confronting information technology. Pfizer has likewise demanded that countries put up sovereign assets , including depository financial institution reserves, military bases and embassy buildings, as collateral for expected vaccine injury lawsuits resulting from its COVID-19 inoculation.

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

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

STAT News also referred to concerns by legal experts, who too suggested Pfizer'due south demands were an abuse of power. Mark Eccleston-Turner, a lecturer in global health police force at Keele University in England, told STAT:

"[Pfizer] is trying to eke out as much profit and minimize its gamble at every juncture with this vaccine evolution then this vaccine rollout. Now, the vaccine development has been heavily subsidized already. And so there's very minimal take a chance for the manufacturer involved there."

Signs of COVID vaccine failure, adverse furnishings rise

Pfizer continues to sign lucrative surreptitious vaccine deals across the globe. In June 2021, they signed one of their biggest contracts to date — with the Philippine authorities for 40 million doses .

Meanwhile, COVID-19 "quantum cases," which used to be chosen vaccine failures, are on the rise. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), equally of July 19, five,914 people who had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 were hospitalized or died from COVID-19.

In the U.Thousand., as of July 15, 87.5% of the developed population had received one dose of COVID-xix vaccine and 67.1% had received ii. Even so, symptomatic cases amidst partially and fully vaccinated are on the rise , with an average of 15,537 new infections a day being detected, a 40% increase from the week before.

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

Presently afterward the report, however, they reverted the number to the 6,079 from the week before, indicating by default that no deaths from the vaccine had occurred that week, raising serious questions about transparency and vaccine prophylactic.

Many other adverse events are likewise appearing, ranging in risks from the biologically active SARS-CoV-2 spike protein used in the vaccine to blood clots, reproductive toxicity and myocarditis ( heart inflammation ). As you lot tin can see in the confidential indemnification agreements, notwithstanding, fifty-fifty 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 be asking is this: If the COVID-xix vaccines are, in fact, as rubber and constructive as the manufacturers claim, why do they require this level of indemnification?

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