×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Thursday
22
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 11°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

Pfizer did not know if Covid vaccine prevented transmission of the virus, executive admits in EU hearing

Ms Small appeared in the place of Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla, who had been called to testify but pulled out of the hearing earlier this month

Newsroom October 12 06:16

A senior Pfizer executive has admitted that the drug company did not know whether its Covid vaccine prevented transmission of the virus when it began rolling out the shots globally.

Janine Small, Pfizer’s president of international developed markets, was testifying before the European Union Parliament on Monday when she was asked the question by Dutch MEP Rob Roos.

“Was the Pfizer Covid vaccine tested on stopping the transmission of the virus before it entered the market?” Mr Roos asked.

“If not, please say it clearly. If yes, are you willing to share the data with this committee? And I really want a straight answer, yes or no, and I’m looking forward to it.”

also read

The mouthwatering famous delicacy of Heraklion you must try!

Ms Small — appearing in the place of Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla, who had been called to testify but pulled out of the hearing earlier this month — replied that the company had to “move at the speed of science”.

“Regarding the question around, um, did we know about stopping the immunisation [sic] before it entered the market? No, heh,” she said.

“Uh, these, um, you know, we had to really move at the speed of science to really understand what is taking place in the market, and from that point of view we had to do everything at risk. I think Dr Bourla, even though he’s not here, would turn around and say to you himself, ‘If not us then who?’”

 

Watch as Pfizer executive Janine Small admits to EU parliament that Pfizer did not test the vaccine for preventing transmission of Covid prior to it being made available to the public.

Small says, “We had to really move at the speed of science..we had to do everything at risk.” pic.twitter.com/FvTn01zv3J

— True North (@TrueNorthCentre) October 11, 2022

Ms Small said Dr Bourla “actually felt the importance of what was going on in the world, and therefore as a result of that, we actually, um, spent $US2 billion, at risk, of self-funded money from Pfizer, to be able to research, develop and manufacture at risk, to be able to make sure that we were in a position to be able to help with the pandemic”.

>Related articles

Mitsotakis in Brussels for the informal European Council, not going to Davos

What the “framework agreement” announced by Trump for Greenland means: Security, minerals, and the Golden Dome

Trump without pretense in Davos: The harsh message to Europe and the glimmer of de-escalation over Greenland

Mr Roos shared a brief clip of Ms Small’s response on Twitter, describing the answer as “scandalous”.

“Millions of people worldwide felt forced to get vaccinated because of the myth that ‘you do it for others’,” he said in the video, which has been viewed more than five million times.

source news.com.au

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#covid vaccine#eu#hearing#Pfizer
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Finland calls for a plan for Arctic security by next NATO meeting

January 22, 2026

Metron Analysis: from 12.9% to 16%, the lead of ND in one month, 50% for Karstianos’ popularity

January 22, 2026

Five companies donate a new voice communication and recording system to Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority

January 22, 2026

Mitsotakis: ‘Yes to 13 Countries Joining the Peace Council — but Only for Gaza’

January 22, 2026

The Ukrainian murderer of the hotelier in Rhodes was arrested in Munich

January 22, 2026

EODY: Seven deaths from flu in the last week and 23 hospitalisations in intensive care units

January 22, 2026

Guilfoyle: A ‘window’ for US–Europe agreements

January 22, 2026

Oscars 2026: Four nominations for Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia

January 22, 2026
All News

> Diaspora

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church: Feeding the Homeless – Sunday, January 18

Sunday, January 18 Meal Prep: 6pm – 7:30pm >Related articles The ordeal of a 28-year-old Greek man in Australia: He went on holiday to visit relatives, was injured at a beach, and is at risk of quadriplegiaRussia declares war on the Ecumenical Patriarch: “He is dismantling the Body of the Church, has nationalist and neo-nazi […]

January 12, 2026

Registrations open for 2026 Greek Community Cup Women’s Tournament

January 7, 2026

Vasilopita and New Year Traditions, from antiquity to the present day

January 5, 2026

Light and Water at Theophany and in Ancient Greece

January 2, 2026

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church: A final Stewardship appeal before year’s end

December 31, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα