"In no way are Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca profiting off of this pandemic"
Absurd remark. These companies are selling vaccines to governments around the world. Any reasonable, straightforward definition of 'profit' would apply here, as pharmaceutical companies are not non-profit entities.
There is a difference between accounting profit (receipts vs outlays) vs economic profit (benefits of doing something vs opportunity cost of doing it).
It is almost tautological that there is nothing to gain for the people involved in the vaccine food chain from limiting the scope of the government-cajoled "market" for them but acknowledging that natural immunity does exist and is stronger than what the vaccine-provided protection.
Therefore, the statement:
>> SARS-CoV-2-naïve vaccinees had a 13.06-fold (95% CI, 8.08 to 21.11) increased risk for breakthrough infection with the Delta variant compared to those previously infected, when the first event (infection or vaccination) occurred during January and February of 2021.
> "There is, of course, no profit or gold-plated post civil "service" career in big pharma or book deals associated with acknowledging this."
does not refer to the balance sheet of AstraZeneca or any other company. It refers to the prospective incentives of people involved in the vaccine food chain.
Take a look at Pfizer's R&P charts from the last handful of years. It's hardly made a dent over all. I'm tired of this right wing nonsense on this site that is one step away from claiming these companies want to keep the pandemic going for as long as they can. It's complete FUD. It's one dog whistle after another.
Go take a look at their stock price chart. I'll wait. They're just now recovering from the 2009 crash and that's in today's inflated dollars.
We have too many people who are quick to jump to comment on headlines but who can't look into earnings and revenue reports and see how a company is really performing. EBITDA? Why on earth are you on a forum that specializes in startups and venture funding with this little due diligence?
I'm glad the other comment got flagged but this is just a nonsensical dog and pony show for right wingers who are playing coy, grasping at headlines and asking rhetorical "Gee they wouldn't profit off if it would they, fellas?" trying to whistle their way. Despicable, really.
"Why on earth are you on a forum that specializes in startups and venture funding with this little due diligence?"
You are awfully quick to sling insults with a 37-minute old account. For-profit companies aim to make profits. Pharmaceutical companies make profits from selling pharmaceuticals. This is not controversial nor is it some kind of "dog whistle".
When one makes profit from providing to others who are not compelled to use it a good or service they are not compelled to produce, the "profit" is pure goodness.
When the market for a thing exists solely through government action, compulsion, coercion, or cajoling, the same cannot be said.
But that is an aside. My comment simply pointed out the tautology that no entity involved in the vaccine food chain has any incentive to acknowledge the strong protection conferred by natural immunity.
If you are aware of such incentives, please point them out. If you are aware of big pharma executives pleading with governments not to create panic or use compulsion to increase the vaccination, please do point them out.
None of what I said is "right wing nonsense". Simply a sober look at the incentives faced by various entities who have full liability protection from the consequences of any decisions they make.
AFAIK, Pfizer is actually mandating previously infected employees to get vaccinated. Not FUD.
> "Well gee, the headline says they made $22B from the pandemic, I guess they must be filthy rich off of this!".
There is a difference between having something to lose from acknowledging that previously infected individuals have strong protection against Covid19 and the way you make it sound.
> Read a balance sheet. It will do you some good.
I have. Some very deeply. Thank you very much for your concern.
I don't see why they would. Presumably they're offering refunds to mitigate bad press, but continuing to sell juice packets to customers who refund the hardware is tantamount to a direct admission that the hardware is useless.
