Pfizer accused of funding anti-AstraZeneca information

Pfizer, co-developer of the Comirnaty coronavirus vaccine, has been accused of funding educational presentations that claim AstraZeneca's rival shot was ineffective and even dangerous for some members of the population, reported CityAM.

A Channel 4 Dispatches investigation due to air this week claims it has "uncovered evidence" that Pfizer funded a number of educational presentations that were delivered to health professionals across Canada about its mRNA vaccine.

According to the broadcaster, these included slides that listed several disadvantages of the "viral vector" technology that is the basis for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Delivered by speakers who had received funds from Pfizer, the slides said there is a risk of "chromosomal integration and oncogenesis" with such vaccines. They also claimed that AstraZeneca's jab cannot be used in immunocompromised people.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford vaccine group that co-developed the Astra Zeneca vaccine, dismissed the contents of the slides, noting there is "absolutely zero evidence" that the vaccine "would or could" cause cancer, and that it had been given to millions of immunocompromised people and caused no harm.

For its part, Pfizer said it "provided funds to a third party agency" for an "education programme," but did "not provide presentation materials … and did not edit or influence the presentations."