Update: Apparently, there’s more to this story with Pfizer now saying the drug company is a participant in Operation Warp Speed. It’s confusing since they told the New York Times earlier that they were not part of Warp Speed. So, for clarity, CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale tweeted the following:
Pfizer now says it *is* a participant in Warp Speed. Spokesperson notes its significant purchase agreement with the US government.
Pfizer’s head of vaccine development had told NYT it wasn’t part of Warp Speed because it didn’t take research $, but that’s not the whole story. pic.twitter.com/6J3FsoRX4a
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 9, 2020
Opinions vary, but some independent experts also told me Pfizer’s comments to NYT at least needed more context – that the govt. purchase agreement and other elements of Warp Speed may have been a factor in this (preliminary!) news even without the company taking research money.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 9, 2020
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Other experts say Pfizer would’ve likely gotten to this point with or without the purchase agreement. So: we’ll probably never have a definitive Who Gets Credit answer, but there is nuance. #nuance
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 9, 2020
Of all the lies from the Trump administration, the worst ones were about the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken over two hundred and thirty-eight thousand American lives. President-elect Joe Biden — who won the popular and electoral vote — sprang into action and has already named members of a new coronavirus task force.
Incredibly, vice president Mike Pence — who hasn’t been seen for days — unleashed a tweet to claim that Pfizer worked with the Trump administration. The pharma company produced a vaccine for the coronavirus that is 90% effective, but Pfizer was not working with Operation Warp Speed. The ease with which the Trump administration lies is stunning.
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
Dr. Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s head of vaccine development, told the New York Times: “We were never part of the Warp Speed … We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.”
The Twitterverse called Pence out:
Not true! – Pfizer have said that their company did not take any federal money to help pay for research & development, their senior VP Dr Jansen said “We were never part of Warp Speed” More #FakeNews from Ex-Pres @realDonaldTrump camp 🤡 https://t.co/hk4enqI1Z0
— Aamer Anwar🎗✊🏽#BlackLivesMatter (@AamerAnwar) November 9, 2020
Too bad they weren’t part of Operation Warp Speed.
We see you trying to get credit. You don’t.
— Rich Swinton 🇺🇸 (@RicoSuaveJD) November 9, 2020
Nope. The gang that couldn’t shoot straight had zero to do with this. See the statements from Pfizer execs. https://t.co/nVMzPKVHB4
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) November 9, 2020
VP Pence, as he often does, is not telling the truth. Pfizer did NOT take any federal money and did NOT participate in the public-private partnership to which he refers. Very dishonest of @Mike_Pence https://t.co/pKpEaG6MFF
— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) November 9, 2020
Pence and Trump will take credit for anything at this point to cling onto power, but the people have spoken. It’s time to pack your shit and go, Mike. Pence is supposed to be the head of the coronavirus task force, so he, too, failed to keep this country safe.
Featured image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr, under Creative Commons license 2.0