Florida Sues Pfizer for Deceptive COVID-19 Vaccine Marketing

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a civil lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. and CEO Albert Bourla in the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in St. Lucie County, accusing the pharmaceutical company of deceptive marketing regarding its COVID-19 vaccine. cibercuba.com reported that the legal action invokes the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, alleging the company concealed known risks while publicly marketing the product as safe.

Allegations of Concealed Risks and Misleading Transmission Claims

The state complaint asserts that Pfizer withheld internal safety data concerning serious medical conditions while insisting the vaccine carried no material safety risks. According to court filings cited by cibercuba.com, the company allegedly hid data regarding miocarditis, pericarditis, and complications affecting pregnant women. The lawsuit also claims Pfizer insinuated the vaccine stopped virus transmission without sufficient proof and publicly labeled critics of its statements as criminal.

The profits Pfizer made rested on deception and falsehoods. While Pfizer insisted to consumers that the vaccine posed no material safety risks—and while it actively sought to discredit those who said otherwise—Pfizer was aware of data reflecting serious safety risks that it concealed from the public.

Florida civil complaint

State prosecutors are seeking civil penalties exceeding 50,000 dollars for each violation, the disgorgement of profits obtained through the alleged deception, and an injunction to block future violations. Pfizer disputed the claims in a written statement, maintaining that its representations have been accurate and grounded in science.

The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and based on science, and the company stands behind the safety and efficacy of its vaccine. Pfizer believes that the state’s allegations have no merit and will respond to the lawsuit in due course.

Pfizer Inc.

Florida Civil Action Aligns with DeSantis Vaccination Policies

The pharmaceutical manufacturer noted that its vaccine, initially authorized by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2020, has reached billions of individuals and demonstrated a favorable safety profile across all age groups. For residents who received the vaccine in Florida, legal analysts note that the action is purely civil and carries no criminal charges, meaning it does not alter medical recommendations or invalidate personal vaccination records.

This filing aligns with broader initiatives led by Governor Ron DeSantis concerning vaccination policies. Uthmeier assumed the role of attorney general in February 2025 after serving as DeSantis’s chief of staff. A similar consumer protection lawsuit was filed against Pfizer by Kansas in June 2024 using nearly identical allegations.

Earlier, in January 2025, a Florida state grand jury convened by DeSantis in 2022 to examine vaccine practices concluded that manufacturers had not violated state or federal laws, though it criticized the close relationship between federal regulators and pharmaceutical firms like Pfizer and Moderna.