In a recent announcement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) revealed that he is suing pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, claiming that the company "misrepresented" the efficacy of its widely administered COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by engaging in "false, deceptive, and misleading acts and practices" regarding its COVID-19 vaccine.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the assertion that Pfizer gave the impression that its vaccine would bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, while questioning the accuracy of the company's claim that its shot was 95 percent effective. Paxton's lawsuit contends that these efficacy results were achieved in a "technical and artificial way."

Pfizer's original coronavirus vaccine received more than 366 million doses in the United States alone, according to federal data. An efficacy analysis released in November 2020 determined that the vaccine was 95 percent effective against COVID-19 after 28 days of the first dose. However, Paxton's lawsuit challenges the validity of these findings.

"We are seeking justice for the people of Texas, many of whom were coerced into taking a defective product based on misinformation," Paxton stated. He criticized the Biden Administration for allegedly using the pandemic to enforce "illegal public health decrees" and accused Pfizer of contributing to the harm caused by their actions.

The lawsuit outlines five violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, including allegations that Pfizer utilized social media platforms to "intimidate" and "silence truth-tellers." Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who sits on Pfizer's board of directors, was specifically mentioned in relation to this claim. Paxton's suit accuses Gottlieb of flagging posts or accounts that questioned the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine, knowing that they would be negatively impacted.

As part of the legal action, Paxton's lawsuit demands that Pfizer be prohibited from making claims about the efficacy of its COVID-19 vaccine and collaborating with social media platforms to suppress truthful speech related to the vaccine's effectiveness.

Responding to the lawsuit, Pfizer issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to patient well-being. The company defended the safety and effectiveness of its vaccine, highlighting that it has been administered to over 1.5 billion people and has demonstrated a favorable safety profile across different age groups.

Pfizer firmly believes that the state's lawsuit lacks merit and intends to address the allegations in court.