On Monday, Pfizer, Inc. announced that early analysis of its coronavirus vaccine trial suggested the vaccine was robustly effective in preventing Covid-19, a promising development as the world has waited anxiously for any positive news about a pandemic that has killed more than 1.2 million people.
Pfizer, which developed the vaccine with the German drugmaker BioNTech, released only sparse details from its clinical trial, based on the first formal review of the data by an outside panel of experts.
The company said that the analysis found that the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing the disease among trial volunteers who had no evidence of prior coronavirus infection. If the results hold up, that level of protection would put it on par with highly effective childhood vaccines for diseases such as measles. No serious safety concerns have been observed, the company said.
The U.S. government was not involved in the development of Pfizer’s vaccine. Germany gave the drug company $445 million in an agreement in September to help accelerate the vaccine by building out manufacturing and development capacity in its home market.
But that fact didn’t stop Vice President Mike Pence from trying to take credit for it, saying on Twitter that support from the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed program helped accelerate the development of the vaccine.
Pence’s tweet prompted an avalanche of negative responses:
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
Way to break a couple of commandments, you piece of garbage.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) November 9, 2020
Pfizer already clarified you and Trump had nothing to do with it
— David Pakman (@dpakman) November 9, 2020
Pence continues the core Trump administration philosophy of taking credit for other people's accomplishments.
— Paul 👻 (@pablo_honey1) November 9, 2020
Just stop. The fact that they waited until after the election to announce this should tell you something.
— Bye MAGAts Bye… (@TitansF12393720) November 9, 2020
The vaccine by Pfizer is real but the claim to a “public-private partnership” is FAKE NEWS given that Pfizer did not accept a single $ from the US government to develop this vaccine. Pfizer refused money because it specifically didn’t want Trump & co to make this type of claim!
— MURRAY🧢🇺🇸 (@murray_nyc) November 9, 2020
Pfizer were very loudly and clearly not part of Trump's program.
Keep lying, though. I know it's all you've got at this point.
— Ben Stephens (@stephens_ben) November 9, 2020
Lies much?? pic.twitter.com/t3PSUu1yE8
— Calvin (No DM) Biden/Harris2020 🇺🇸 (@VassalloChan) November 9, 2020
No one cares about your lies. You failed America. Don't take credit for other people's work. Is that so hard?
— Todd Fenton (@AguynamedTodd) November 10, 2020
“We were never part of the Warp Speed … We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone” -Pfizer
— Devin Treichel – BLM (@DevinFoFevin) November 10, 2020
Please quit with the unwarranted praise for the dictator wanna-be. He killed 239,000 Americans. That will not be overlooked or forgotten.
"I do not accept responsibility" pic.twitter.com/WncJtKXD3l— Wayne (@whec65) November 9, 2020
