Vaccine: Pfizer CEO revealed why he chose Israel as “global laboratory”

JERUSALEM.- In the race to develop vaccines against Covid-19 as soon as possible, the North American laboratory Pfizer was looking for a country that was “quite suitable for humanity”. After a long series of appeals with various governments, the lab opted for Israel, which it partnered with for testing.

This was told by the general manager of the company, Albert Bourla, in an interview with Channel 12 of Israel Television, where he revealed behind the scenes of Israel’s selection as a testing ground, in a close and fruitful partnership that now places this country among the most advanced in vaccination of their societies.

“We knew it would be good for humanity if a country was chosen that would serve as an example of what the vaccine can do for the health of its people, as well as its economy, because it can reopen its activity.” ”Said Bourla.

“Of course, I spoke with various heads of state, including Netanyahu, and he convinced me that Israel is a place with the right conditions for testing. I was impressed by his Prime Minister’s obsession: he called me 30 timesThe CEO told Israeli journalist Yonit Levi.

He also cited “Israel’s extraordinary health care system”, a very high degree of economic data and experience in crisis management.

“Creo que Israel se ha convertido en el laboratorio del mundo en este momento porque han vacunado a una gran parte de su población, por lo que podemos estudiar tanto los índices económicos como los de salud”, había dicho Bourla en una entrevista a NBC News last Friday.

The CEO of Pfizer addressed the struggle to adapt the vaccine to the different variants that are being developed around the world. “I have set a target for my team that we are ready to develop a suitable vaccine for a new variant which will be defined as worrying within 100 days,” he said.

In this context, he tried to calm down and clarified that the only variant to be treated is the South African, because the vaccines that his company is developing are very effective against the British strain.

Asked about Netanyahu’s frequent claim, ahead of the March 23 election, that only he can bring vaccines to Israel, Bourla stressed that his company signs contracts with states, not with individual leaders.

“We do not enter into contracts with individual companies or organizations (…) The vaccines will be sold in all countries, regardless of the leader ”, He said.

Bourla, the Greek-born son of Holocaust survivors, was due to arrive in Israel on March 8, just 15 days before the election, but delayed the trip last week. “It was quite complicated like a trip (…) in the middle of the pandemic, the logistics were not always perfect”, so he decided to suspend it.

Netanyahu has repeatedly touted his personal relationship with Bourla as one of the main reasons Israel was able to obtain large amounts of the coronavirus vaccine so quickly.

Bourla confirmed that he received letters asking him not to travel to Israel before the elections, as well as letters telling him to continue the trip. “My job is not to play politics,” said Greek executive, adding that he has “no intention” to interfere in the elections.

THE NATION