Pfizer executive claims vaccine testing was delayed to sway 2020 election

In the United States, the House Judiciary Committee has taken steps to investigate allegations involving Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine development process. The committee issued a subpoena to Dr. Philip Dormitzer, a former Pfizer executive, after he failed to respond to previous voluntary requests for information. The allegations revolve around claims that senior executives delayed clinical testing to ensure that the announcement about the vaccine's effectiveness occurred after the 2020 presidential election, a timing that may have influenced the electoral process. Dormitzer, who worked for Pfizer as Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of RNA and Viral Vaccines, reportedly told colleagues at his new employer, GSK, about a deliberate decision to slow down the trial process. This claim surfaced in late 2020 as the political backdrop intensified with the presidential election nearing. Additionally, GSK provided the House committee with details of Dormitzer's discontent over these allegations and his fears about potential investigations by the Trump administration. The committee seeks to establish whether there was indeed any intentional delay to benefit political interests. The inquiry has raised significant questions not only about Pfizer’s actions but also about the interactions between pharmaceutical companies and the governmental landscape during a crisis. Pfizer’s vaccine announcement occurred nearly a week after the election, although the company's CEO, Albert Bourla, has stated that there was no political influence behind the timing. The investigation continues as Congress looks to clarify the facts surrounding these serious allegations and their implications for public health and governance.