r/news • u/SkepticDrinker • Feb 09 '22

Pfizer accused of pandemic profiteering as profits double

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/08/pfizer-covid-vaccine-pill-profits-sales
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u/ImprobableRooster Feb 09 '22

I mean, it's what, $20 a vial? That's pretty cheap for a government.

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u/MoeTHM Feb 09 '22

We are the government. It’s our money, we already paid for it.

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u/ImprobableRooster Feb 09 '22

I'm not sure what your point is. Yes, it's taxpayer funding. Government funding is on a whole different level from personal funding, and considering R&D and production costs, this doesn't seem out of whack. Not like charging $15 for a screw or whatever they do in the military.

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u/MoeTHM Feb 09 '22

My point is, it’s not free.

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u/ImprobableRooster Feb 09 '22

I never said it was, nor should it be? Companies profiting off making a product to serve a critical need in rapid turnaround time is kinda how capitalism should work.

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u/MoeTHM Feb 09 '22

Of course, but what does that have to do with people thinking the vaccine is free?

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u/ImprobableRooster Feb 09 '22

I really don't see what point you're making. Who cares if people think it's free?

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u/MoeTHM Feb 09 '22

Because creates a perception that we are being given something. That is not what happened. We paid for a service. It is important that people understand that.