Tue. May 14th, 2024

I became your enemy because I tell you the truth

Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla has pulled out of an appointment to testify before the European Parliament’s Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic (“COVI”), at which he was expected to face tough questions on how secretive vaccine deals were struck.

The decision follows an audit report into the EU’s vaccine procurement strategy published earlier in the month that raised new questions about contact between Bourla and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that preceded a multibillion-euro vaccine contract.

The report, by the European Court of Auditors, found that von der Leyen had been directly involved in preliminary negotiations for the EU’s biggest vaccine contract, for up to 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which was concluded in May 2021. This was a departure from the negotiating procedure followed with other contracts. The EU watchdog also noted that the Commission refused to provide records of the discussions with Pfizer.

After a visit to BioNTech’s headquarters on 20-21 September, COVI’s chair, Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt, said in a written statement that she looked forward to discussions “with other CEOs” including “Mr. Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer.”

Bourla was scheduled to appear before the panel on 10 October. Other pharmaceutical executives have already addressed the committee, including the CEO of Moderna and senior officials from AstraZeneca and Sanofi.

Related: MEP Grills AstraZeneca and Moderna About Vaccines and Vaccine Contracts During EU Covid Committee Meeting

However, a spokesperson for Pfizer contacted Politico and said the company’s president of international development markets, Janine Small, would attend the committee hearing instead.

Read the full article:  Pfizer CEO pulls out of testifying to EU Parliament COVID panel, Politico, 29 September 2022

Pfizer’s CEO Doesn’t Have the Courage to Face EU Parliament to Answer Questions

 

Michael Loyman

By Michael Loyman

Я родился свободным, поэтому выбора, чем зарабатывать на жизнь, у меня не было, стал предпринимателем. Не то, чтобы я не терпел начальства, я просто не могу воспринимать работу, даже в хорошей должности и при хорошей зарплате, если не работаю на себя и не занимаюсь любимым делом.

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