House Committee Subpoenas Pfizer Executive in Vaccine Delay Probe

Committee’s Investigation Focuses on Vaccine Timing and Politics

The House Judiciary Committee has taken a significant step by subpoenaing Dr. Philip Dormitzer, a former executive at Pfizer, as part of their investigation surrounding alleged delays in the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. Documents obtained by CNN reveal that this move aims to gather critical testimony and records from Dormitzer, particularly after he did not voluntarily comply with earlier requests. The committee’s inquiry is rooted in claims that clinical trials were intentionally postponed until after the 2020 presidential election, raising serious concerns about the political implications surrounding the vaccine’s rollout in that period.

Dormitzer Defends Actions Amid Subpoena Concerns

The ongoing probe highlights Dormitzer’s role, especially after allegations surfaced that he suggested within GSK, his current employer, that Pfizer postponed announcing the vaccine’s effectiveness until after the election. Dormitzer has strongly denied these claims, asserting to The Wall Street Journal that all efforts were made to gain FDA approval as soon as feasibly possible. He stated, “any other interpretation” regarding the vaccine’s timeliness is simply inaccurate.

GSK’s Input Adds Layer to Legislative Investigation

The timeline of Pfizer’s vaccine effectiveness announcement, which came just days after Election Day, has attracted scrutiny, although CEO Albert Bourla has remarked that politics did not play a role in the timing. Despite the committee’s inquiry, GSK has provided information claiming Dormitzer expressed concern over potential investigations by the incoming Trump Administration due to his vaccine development work. Furthermore, according to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, GSK indicated Dormitzer mentioned the timing of vaccine announcements as potentially significant, adding another layer of intrigue to an already complex situation.