Florida AG sues Pfizer over COVID vaccine safety claims

October 1, 2026 at 09:47 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued Pfizer and CEO Albert Bourla on Thursday, alleging the company concealed serious safety risks of its COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuit claims Pfizer hid data on myocarditis and risks to pregnant women while spending over $10 billion on advertising from 2020 to 2023. Pfizer has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Key Facts

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the lawsuit on Thursday in the Circuit Court for the 19th Judicial Circuit.
The lawsuit alleges Pfizer concealed risks of myocarditis and pericarditis among minors and adverse events for pregnant women.
Pfizer spent more than $10 billion on advertising for the vaccine from 2020 to 2023.
CEO Albert Bourla's compensation was approximately $102 million during that period, excluding proceeds from selling Pfizer shares.

Lawsuit Allegations

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, accuses Pfizer and CEO Albert Bourla of marketing the COVID-19 vaccine as safe while allegedly knowing about serious health concerns. Uthmeier claims Pfizer was aware of data reflecting serious safety risks that it hid from the public. The suit specifically cites risks of myocarditis and pericarditis among minors and potential adverse events for pregnant women. Uthmeier argues Pfizer's marketing campaign 'rested on deception and falsehoods' and that the company actively sought to discredit those who raised safety concerns.

Financial Claims

The lawsuit states Pfizer spent more than $10 billion on advertising for the vaccine from 2020 to 2023. CEO Albert Bourla's compensation during that period was approximately $102 million, not including proceeds from selling Pfizer shares. The suit alleges Pfizer's marketing campaign drove record-breaking profits.

Political Context

The lawsuit comes amid heightened Republican efforts to question vaccine safety and protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts are led by the Trump administration and its allies.