The Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical company Pfizer, alleging that it exaggerated the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine and misled the public. The lawsuit was filed in Lubbock state district court in north-west Texas, according to the Texas Tribune.
Paxton accused Pfizer of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by making unsupported claims about the vaccine's efficacy. He argued that Pfizer's assertions of 95% effectiveness implied the vaccine would end the pandemic, but that infection and death rates worsened as the vaccine became more widely available. The suit also claims Pfizer conspired to silence critics, a common argument among anti-vaccine figures.
In a statement, Pfizer said the lawsuit had no merit, emphasising that the vaccine has been administered to 1.5 billion people worldwide and has helped protect against severe Covid-19 outcomes, including hospitalisation and death. The company maintained that its representations were accurate and science-based.
Paxton is seeking a court order prohibiting Pfizer from making efficacy claims about its Covid-19 vaccine and is requesting financial penalties of $10,000 for each alleged violation. The total civil penalties could exceed $10 million, according to Reuters. This is the second lawsuit Paxton has filed against Pfizer in November; earlier this month, he sued the company over alleged quality-control test alterations for ADHD medication.
