Kansas files lawsuit against Pfizer over Covid-19 vaccine deception

The state of Kansas, US, has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, alleging that the pharmaceutical company engaged in deceptive practices regarding its Covid-19 vaccine. The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Thomas County, accuses Pfizer of violating the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by making false claims about the vaccine's effectiveness while concealing potential risks.
According to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, "Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth." The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer hid evidence linking the vaccine to pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, as well as heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) shortly after the vaccine's rollout in early 2021.
Pfizer has denied the allegations, stating, "The representations made by Pfizer about its Covid-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based." The company believes the lawsuit has no merit. In June 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration added a warning about the rare side effects of myocarditis and pericarditis to the vaccine's label, which primarily affect adolescent boys and young men. A 2023 review by the US National Institutes of Health found no link between Covid vaccines and miscarriage.
The lawsuit also claims that Pfizer falsely stated that its vaccine, developed with German partner BioNTech for the original strain of the virus, maintained high effectiveness against mutated variants and could prevent not only illness but also transmission. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a similar lawsuit against Pfizer last year, which is still pending and has also been called meritless by the company.
Attorney General Kobach indicated that other states have been collaborating with Kansas in its investigation and are expected to file similar lawsuits. BioNTech is not named as a defendant in the case.