By Alec Hogg
I had a surreal experience yesterday. There I was sitting in the Wall Street Journal’s cave in Davos, sitting a mere three metres from the man many members of our tribe believe to be the closest thing to an evil businessman that you’ll find in the modern era. And then hearing the same fellow describe himself as having saved the world.
Albert Bourla, a 59-year-old Greek-American who went from being a veterinarian to Big Pharma, speaks heavily accented English and certainly doesn’t lack self-confidence. He is chunky and although of average height, strikes an imposing figure. Bourla, you see, is the CEO of Pfizer, the company which believes its fast tracking of the mRNA Covid vaccine from the usual eight years to eight months has saved many millions lives.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___Me, well, I couldn’t warm to the man. Maybe that’s the influence of Covid vaccine critics Nick Hudson, Adv Erin Richards and author Brian Pottinger. Or simply because I’ve played too much golf with vaccine sceptic pal Bruce. But it could also be because of Bourla’s too-polished delivery, too-cocksure attitude and tendency for self-congratulation.
It might also be because of the way he told us Pfizer is doubling down on the mRNA technology, promising 19 new products (including five vaccines) in the next 18 months. Among them a new combined flu/Covid vaccine which Bourla reckons will be better than the existing Flu-only vaccines. He told us 97% of Pfizer’s staff also believe the company saved the world. For me, the jury is still out on that one.
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