Pence slammed for wrongly crediting Trump for Pfizer COVID vaccine

New York, November 12 (RHC)-- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has attempted to give the credit of a new coronavirus vaccine to President Donald Trump, but the New York-based pharmaceutical giant pummeled him.

Pfizer, which developed the vaccine with the German drugmaker BioNTech, announced on Monday that their COVID-19 vaccine was 90 percent effective in ongoing Phase 3 trials.  "The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine's ability to prevent COVID-19," Pfizer chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.

"We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis," he said.  "We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most."

In response, Pence tweeted, "HUGE NEWS: Thanks to the public-private partnership forged by President @realDonaldTrump, @pfizer announced its Coronavirus Vaccine trial is EFFECTIVE, preventing infection in 90% of its volunteers.”

But the company immediately pointed out that their vaccine had nothing to do with the government.  “We were never part of the Warp Speed ... We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone,” said Dr. Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s head of vaccine development.

Operation Warp Speed is a $12 billion program, which the Trump administration launched earlier this year to produce a coronavirus vaccine for Americans.  Pfizer had refused to take government money for research and development, in a bid to preserve their independence.

Dr. Jansen said she the results from the outside panel of experts on Sunday afternoon were not timed with the U.S. presidential election.  “We have always said that science is driving how we conduct ourselves — no politics,” she said.

Former Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley also tried to give credit for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Trump.  “The news about the @pfizer vaccine being 90% effective is great news for the American people! Many thanks to @realDonaldTrump  and Operation Warp Speed. This will be one of the most important action items done by the administration in response to this pandemic,” she tweeted.

Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, last month lamented the fact that a vaccine was being “discussed in political terms rather than scientific facts.”  He warned: “The amplified political rhetoric around vaccine development, timing and political credit is undercutting public confidence."

"We would never succumb to political pressure. The only pressure we feel — and it weighs heavy — are the billions of people, millions of businesses and hundreds of government officials that are depending on us,” he said.

“We’ve engaged with many elected leaders around the globe through this health crisis, but Pfizer took no investment money from any government.  Our independence is a precious asset.”