President Trump slammed booster shots as being a cynical cash-grab from vaccine producers, saying that he could “see the dollar signs in their eyes” when the concept was first floated.
As the COVID vaccine began rolling out earlier this year, the pharmaceutical companies behind them began to suggest that with the development of new variants, booster shots may be a necessity in order to maintain protection from the disease. Reports in April said that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines would only guarantee an offer of protection for six months, with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla adding days after that a “likely scenario” would even require an “annual revaccination” program.
Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, President Trump, who has generally been enthusiastic about the vaccines that were developed part in thanks to his Operation Warp Speed program, attacked the principle of booster shots as being simply a cash-grab from the greedy corporations. “If you’re a businessman, you’ll say, ‘you know what, let’s give them another shot, that’s another $10 billion of money coming in’,” Trump said, describing the whole situation as “crazy.”
Trump added that people wouldn’t think that they would need a booster, as when the vaccines first came out they were good for life. “Then they were good for a year or two, and I could see the writing on the wall, I could see the dollar signs in their eyes,” he remarked.
Donald Trump on the boosters: "The whole thing is just crazy" pic.twitter.com/z22Bdl19gB
— Osler (@osler78) August 18, 2021
As National File reported, the potential of booster shots is certainly likely to produce even further profits for the Big Pharma companies involved in producing the vaccines. SEC filings have showed that in 2021, Moderna has already made $12 billion, with Stéphane Bancel, the company’s CEO, saying that they are “looking forward towards our vision of a single dose annual booster that provides protection against COVID-19, flu and RSV for adults.”
Some Americans are even going so far as to take it upon themselves to get a third dose of the experimental vaccine:
A California TV station reveals that over 900 Americans have received a third vaccine, according to information released by healthcare providers across the country… Gina Welch, a woman who spoke to KTLA, revealed that she lied to a vaccine clinic by telling them she wanted to receive her first dose. In reality, it was her third. “I’m going to follow these experts and I’m going to go protect myself,” said Welch, referring to studies she read suggesting a third dose would be beneficial. “I’m not going to wait another six months to a year for them to recommend a third dose.”
