Federal Judge Issues Ruling in Texas-Pfizer Disinformation Lawsuit

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A federal court judge dismissed a lawsuit against Pfizer brought by Texas, saying U.S. laws protect the vaccine maker due to the emergency declarations around COVID-19.

Key Facts:

– Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused Pfizer of misleading the public about its COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy.
– Pfizer initially claimed its vaccine was 95 percent effective based on two months of trial data.
– U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings ruled that the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) shields Pfizer from such claims.
– The judge also noted the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act preempts the Texas allegations.
– Immunity for vaccine makers has been extended through 2029 under federal law.

The Rest of The Story:

Texas officials argued that Pfizer promoted misleading information, claiming the vaccine’s efficacy numbers were drawn from a short trial window.

They believe the company violated prohibitions against misleading advertising when it described the product as 95 percent effective.

However, Pfizer’s legal team countered that the PREP Act grants immunity from lawsuit and liability related to the use of vaccines during an emergency.

Judge Cummings agreed with Pfizer’s position.

He concluded that Texas failed to prove its claims because federal statutes protect vaccine companies from lawsuits arising out of vaccine administration during a declared emergency.

The court also held that the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act bars state-level enforcement when federal law already covers these claims.

Paxton’s office argued that they should still have the power to challenge Pfizer under state law, but the ruling makes clear that federal emergency protections supersede local claims in this case.

The judge finally dismissed the matter, ending the suit based on these federal immunity provisions.

The Bottom Line:

This ruling further cements legal protections around COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers when the federal government has declared an emergency.

It underscores how the PREP Act can shield companies like Pfizer from state-level legal actions.

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While Texas voiced concerns about vaccine marketing, the federal court determined that broader federal laws take priority.

For now, Pfizer remains protected from Texas’ challenge to its COVID-19 vaccine claims.