Pfizer Inc. has mounted a public defense of the research underpinning its Covid-19 vaccine, responding directly to President Donald Trump’s weekend social media post that questioned whether drugmakers were withholding information about the shots. In a statement on its website, the company said it is “dedicated to continuing to provide clear, factual data to the public,” and pointed to more than 600 peer-reviewed publications containing data on its vaccine.
Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chief executive officer, underscored the company’s transparency efforts while simultaneously praising Trump’s support for Operation Warp Speed — the public-private partnership launched during his first term to speed the development of Covid vaccines. Bourla said the program “would typically be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, given its significant impact.”
Vaccines have become one of the most polarizing issues in U.S. politics, with growing skepticism about their safety and effectiveness. Those doubts have intensified under the Trump administration’s health policies. After appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine critic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the administration has sharply restricted the number of Americans eligible for Covid vaccinations. Kennedy ousted the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and placed vaccine skeptics on a key advisory panel that influences national immunization guidelines.
Trump’s own remarks on social media reflected that tension. While acknowledging that “many think Covid vaccines are a miracle that saved millions of lives,” the president claimed drug companies were holding back “extraordinary” information about the shots and that this lack of transparency was “destroying the CDC.”
In its statement, Pfizer said it shares Trump’s call for openness and noted that it maintains a dedicated website where data about its Covid shot are posted. Bourla pledged to add further studies and information to the portal by the end of the month. He also reiterated to analysts that he regularly reminds Trump of Operation Warp Speed’s achievements and believes it was “unfair” the former president did not receive a Nobel Prize for his leadership.
Pfizer’s Covid products remain a major pillar of its business. The company relied on its vaccine and its Covid treatment pill for nearly 20% of annual revenue in 2024. Those sales are typically concentrated in the fall and winter, meaning that recent changes to U.S. vaccine policy and access could weigh heavily on Pfizer’s financial performance.
As public health officials adjust their vaccination strategy and public trust ebbs, Pfizer is seeking to steady its footing by emphasizing transparency and the scientific rigor behind its vaccine. In its statement, the company suggested that the debate should center on data, not politics, and pledged to continue publishing research to keep the public informed.
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