Pfizer confirmed it did not work with the Trump administration to develop its coronavirus vaccine, which the company announced is 90 percent effective.
That did not stop Vice President Mike Pence from taking credit for the news, saying that the vaccine was the result of “the public-private partnership forged by” President Donald Trump as part of Operation WarpSpeed.
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.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) November 9, 2020
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“We were never part of the Warp Speed … We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.†said Kathrin Jansen, a senior vice president and the head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer.
The New York Times noted in its coverage that “Dr. Jansen sought to distance the company from Operation Warp Speed and presidential politics, noting that the company — unlike the other vaccine front-runners — did not take any federal money to help pay for research and development.”
These facts were also highlighted in a post by NBC News White House Correspondent Geoff Bennett.
As Pence claims credit, Pfizer says it did NOT join in the administration's partnership.
Pfizer head of vaccine development Dr. Kathrin Jansen told the NY Times: “We were never part of the Warp Speed … We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.†https://t.co/GScL3vodx9
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) November 9, 2020
Earlier this morning, President Trump appeared to take credit for the Pfizer news as well as recent stock market gains. (The stock market did indeed see gains in the last couple of days. Reports indicate that the market surged amid the vaccine news and following President-Elect Joe Biden’s win.)
Alan is a writer, editor, and news junkie based in New York.
