‘Held to ransom’: Pfizer demands governments gamble with state assets to secure vaccine deal

Argentina and Brazil refused a deal with Pfizer

Confidentiality agreements were used to prevent governments from testifying about the deals offered

Pfizer coerced nations in South America to provide additional protection against being sued for fraud, malice.

However, the government officials from Argentina and the unnamed country who spoke to the Bureau felt Pfizer's demands went beyond those of other vaccine companies, and beyond those of Covax, an organisation created to ensure low-income countries can access vaccines, which is also requiring its members to indemnify manufacturers. This presents an additional burden for some countries because it means having to hire specialist lawyers and sometimes pass complex new legislation, so manufacturers’ liabilities can be waived.

Pfizer asked for additional indemnity from civil cases, meaning that the company would not be held liable for rare adverse effects or for its own acts of negligence, fraud or malice. This includes those linked to company practices – say, if Pfizer sent the wrong vaccine or made errors during manufacturing.

The official said: “Five years in the future when these confidentiality agreements are over you will learn what really happened in these negotiations.”