Pfizer CEO calls anti-vaccine activists criminals as they are hindering the progress in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, the world is facing a deadly virus that has been causing havoc across the globe and opposing vaccines seems to be an act of indirect murder.
Initially, there was no viable cure for the virus, and many people lost their lives. After various medical facilities approved the trials for vaccines, people saw a lifeline that was going to save them from this killing machine. Up to date, more than 5.4 million humans have lost their lives to the pandemic, and the number of orphans, widows, and widowers keeps on increasing as covid-19 is enacting more damage.
The World Health Organisations later approved vaccinations, and countries started rolling these doses to their citizens. According to medical officials from various established institutions, vaccines were deemed safe and effective, and governments were urged to accept these doses.
However, receiving them was a mountain to climb since they faced a lot of backlashes. Such a reaction from the people was also aided by the controversy surrounding the origins of coronavirus. This subject is not clear, and despite probing by World Health Organisation, the origins are still blurred. China refused a second probe into the origins of covid-19 citing that it was politically motivated and more inclined to a witch hunt rather than fact-finding.
When it comes to vaccinations, a popular theory was related to how certain nations were engaging in some underground conspiracy to inject humans with hazardous substances. The internet was buzzing with these theories on various platforms, which perpetuated many people to question if it is safe to get vaccinated.
It is from this background that Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla described those tainting vaccines as “criminals.” He spoke with Washington D.C. based think tank Atlantic Council on Tuesday and despised misinformation on vaccines which are causing the deaths of many people. He said, “They’re criminals because they have literally cost millions of lives.” His argument seems to be backed up by the fact that most anti-vaccine activists have zero background in scientific studies and are not even qualified to comment on such issues. Also, people with this mindset rely on heresy found online and other bloggers who talk about the ‘world order’ and taking over the world by powerful nations.
Bourla noted how peoples’ lives can go “back to normal” if those who are yet to be vaccinated receive their jabs. He explained that “there is a very small group of people that purposefully circulate misinformation on the shots, misleading those who are already hesitant about getting vaccinated” [Source].
Bourla told Atlantic Council CEO Frederick Kempe that “those people are criminals. They’re not bad people. They’re criminals because they have literally cost millions of lives”. His views on the mass rejection of doses were triggered by the negative attitude shown among adult Americans who are eligible for vaccination but are not interested in getting the jab. Analysis from public health experts concluded that misinformation is causing people to hate the vaccines.
The Kaiser Family Foundation carried out a survey termed ‘The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor’ aimed at “tracking the public’s attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations” [Source]. Findings show “78% of adults saying they have heard at least one of eight different false statements about COVID-19 and that they believe it to be true or are unsure if it is true or false. One-third (32%0 of all adults believe or are uncertain about at least four false statements”.
Misinformation is the chief culprit stopping people from getting vaccinated. In African countries such as South Africa and Zimbabwe, presidents had to get vaccinated during a live national broadcast to instill trust of vaccines among their citizens. This only helped the situation a little bit as many people did not buy the idea of covid doses. Because of intense resistance, governments were forced to embark on mandatory vaccination programs, especially for civil servants, varsity students, business owners who wanted to open, fans who wished to attend sports or music concerts.
In the US, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wrote a letter proposing compulsory vaccination of military personnel and said, “Based on the consultations and on additional discussions with the leaders of the White House COVID Task Force, I want you to know that I will seek the President’s approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September [Source], or immediately upon the U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) licensure, whichever comes first.”
Because it was now mandated, a significant number of people got vaccinated, but this did not cover the whole population. KFF survey revealed that “among the falsehoods are that Covid vaccines contain microchips, cause infertility and change one’s DNA.
According to Bourla, “The only thing that stands between the new way of life and the current way of life is, frankly, hesitancy to vaccinations.” Normally, before refuting any concept, one ought to find out evidence that backs up their claim. From this perspective, anti-vaccine activists do not have any tangible evidence to support their claims. Also, they cannot explain if all vaccines are not safe as they come from different manufactures. But given that humans have pinned all their hopes on vaccines, Bourla’s concerns seem real because covid-19’s reign is yet to be over, and people are refusing the only viable measure of protecting them against a grievous pandemic.
