Pfizer Stops Demanding South Africa Provide Sovereign Assets as Indemnity for COVID-19 Vaccine Lawsuits

Pfizer said it will no longer demand that the South African government use its sovereign assets as collateral to indemnify the company against lawsuits arising from administration of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The company reportedly sought protection against claims filed against it by individuals suffering vaccine side effects, specifically backed by sovereign assets, such as federal bank reserves, embassy buildings or military bases, according to the UK-based nonprofit Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Pfizer has sought similar protections from other developing or middle-income nations, including in Latin America.