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Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

qz.com

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Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#13
> There are key differences between an emergency and traditional model that increase the costs of making and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine,” Pfizer told Quartz via email. These costs, the company says, include distributing through multiple channels and payers instead of one, as well as producing the doses in single vials, which can be up to three times more expensive and run into higher transportation costs.

Did Pfizer just admit that single payer systems are more economical than the privatized mess we have in the US????

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#14

> Pfizer also says it is the company’s expectation that most privately insured patients will continue not to face out-of-pocket costs for the vaccine [...] So if you're not directly paying it, it is fine? Because _someone_ has to pay for the insurance.

Yeah, this is a classic bait-and-switch that the Rx companies do. "No patient out-of-pocket!" they tout, as they charge $10k+ to the insurance companies, and by proxy, to the company the employee works for. The Rx company still gets paid the same amount, just through proxies.

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#15
post #13

> There are key differences between an emergency and traditional model that increase the costs of making and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine,” Pfizer told Quartz via email. These costs, the company says, include distributing through multiple channels and payers instead of one, as well as producing the doses in single vials, which can be up to three times more expensive and run into higher transportation costs. Did…

Yes, and they also seem to have admitted that the costs they're encountering are on the order of 3x, not 100x?

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#16

They mention a production cost of $1.20 per vial, but I imagine this only involves the actual production and not what the initial R&D has cost, so the figure of 10,000% is probably largely exaggerated. 10,000% also sounds a lot worst than "$130 per vial for a production cost of $1.20". I don't find the price shocking.

The R&D at either Moderna or Pfizer was paid for by tax payers.

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#18
post #8
post #6

To ask a naive question: What is it about the flu & covid that require annual boosters? Is it just the prevalence of it creating different variants at a higher rate than other viruses? Is there a reason beyond cash incentive?

> Is it just the prevalence of it creating different variants at a higher rate than other viruses? Yes. Mutation is also driven partly by infection rates, so a virus that mutates slowly and infects 1 billion people is going to produce dangerous new strains more rapidly than a virus that mutates quickly and infects 100 people. > Is there a reason beyond cash incentive? Yes. Flu vaccines targeted at emerging strains ar…

Consider the individual's risk profile (such as age, obesity, etc.) and consider the risks of the medical treatment. All medical treatments have side effects and risks.

For a typical child, there is no benefit to a yearly Covid shot, though a yearly flu shot may be worthwhile.

In consultation with my Dr., I get neither of these.

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#19

They mention a production cost of $1.20 per vial, but I imagine this only involves the actual production and not what the initial R&D has cost, so the figure of 10,000% is probably largely exaggerated. 10,000% also sounds a lot worst than "$130 per vial for a production cost of $1.20". I don't find the price shocking.

The R&D at either Moderna or Pfizer was paid for by tax payers.

> Pfizer did not accept federal funding to help develop or manufacture the vaccine

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/heal...

"Tax payers" also means nothing when vaccines are developed in one or a few countries but sold to all countries in the world. Pretty sure Zimbabwean tax payers didn't fund the Pfizer vaccines.

Re: Pfizer plans to sell its Covid vaccine at a 10k% markup

#20

They mention a production cost of $1.20 per vial, but I imagine this only involves the actual production and not what the initial R&D has cost, so the figure of 10,000% is probably largely exaggerated. 10,000% also sounds a lot worst than "$130 per vial for a production cost of $1.20". I don't find the price shocking.

The R&D at either Moderna or Pfizer was paid for by tax payers.

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