Pfizer and Moderna can't be sued if you have side effects from COVID vaccine

In February, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar invoked the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act. The 2005 law empowers the HHS secretary to provide legal protection to companies making or distributing critical medical supplies, such as vaccines and treatments, unless there's "willful misconduct" by the company. The protection lasts until 2024.

That means that for the next four years, these companies "cannot be sued for money damages in court" over injuries related to the administration or use of products to treat or protect against Covid.

The quickest vaccine ever developed was for mumps. It took four years and was licensed in 1967. Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine was developed and cleared for emergency use in eight months — a fact that has fueled public mistrust of the coronavirus inoculation in the U.S.

It is believed that vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna most likely asked for government protection from potential lawsuits in exchange for fast-track vaccine development for COVID. The Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed spearheaded government's efforts to develop and commence distribution of the coronavirus vaccine before the end of this year. 

It has now come to fruition as Pfizer's vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Moderna's vaccine is also currently being reviewed by the FDA, and is expected to secure approval soon.

However, drugmakers like Pfizer continue to reassure the public no shortcuts were taken. "This is a vaccine that was developed without cutting corners," CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "This is a vaccine that is getting approved by all authorities in the world. That should say something."

Source: CNBC 

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