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EVERT NELSON Topeka Capital-Journal file photo<\/p><\/div>\n
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, alleging it deceptively marketed its COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit, filed in state court in Thomas County, comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a similar lawsuit in November. Kobach said at a news conference on Monday that Kansas is one of several states taking legal action against Pfizer. The company said in a statement the lawsuit is without merit.<\/p>\n
Kobach, a Republican, is launching the legal challenge as the pandemic has begun to fade in the public consciousness. But anger at vaccine manufacturers, including conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines, are rampant among parts of the right.<\/p>\n
As vaccines became available, Kansans had to decide whether to get the vaccine and which one to take, Kobach said. \u201cIn such an environment, it is imperative Kansans making that decision receive the truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pfizer made misrepresentations of a \u201csafe and effective\u201d vaccine and that the company said the vaccine was safe even as it knew it was connected to troubling side effects, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, the\u00a0legal complaint alleges<\/a>. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found instances of myocarditis and pericarditis, inflammations involving the heart, rarely occur.<\/p>\n Pfizer also said that patient safety was its top priority and that it follows \u201cdiligent safety and monitoring protocols.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to have developed the COVID-19 vaccine in record time in the midst of a global pandemic and saved countless lives. The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based. The Company believes that the state\u2019s case has no merit and will respond to the suit in due course,\u201d Pfizer said in an unsigned statement.<\/p>\n The lawsuit is being brought over alleged violations of Kansas\u2019 consumer protections laws. Even though vaccine recipients didn\u2019t pay for doses, Kobach said consumer protection laws still apply. The lawsuit alleges Pfizer violated prior consent judgments with Kansas.<\/p>\n The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, but doesn\u2019t specify an amount.<\/p>\n