Florida has moved its scrutiny of COVID-19 vaccines into a profit-focused consumer-protection case, suing Pfizer and CEO Albert Bourla less than two years after a statewide grand jury investigating vaccine manufacturers found no evidence of criminal activity.
Attorney General James Uthmeier filed the 49-page civil complaint on October 1 in St. Lucie County Circuit Court, accusing Pfizer and Bourla of violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act through allegedly misleading vaccine marketing and unfair commercial practices.
The state is seeking an injunction, disgorgement of profits, and civil penalties. Florida law allows penalties of up to $10,000 for each willful violation and up to $15,000 for qualifying violations involving senior citizens or people with disabilities.
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Florida alleges Pfizer generated more than $80 billion from its COVID-19 vaccine before substantially raising its price.
The company reported $36.78 billion in Comirnaty revenue in 2021, $37.81 billion in 2022, and $11.22 billion in 2023. Combined, those three years produced approximately $85.81 billion in reported revenue.
The complaint alleges Pfizer later increased the vaccine’s price from roughly $30 per dose to between $110 and $130 in 2023. Florida also accuses the company of using unfair tactics to protect its market position.
Florida has not said it is seeking the entire $80 billion-plus in vaccine sales.
The state separately alleges Pfizer misrepresented or failed to adequately disclose certain safety risks and promoted vaccination as a way to protect others despite not initially testing whether the vaccine prevented transmission.
“The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based, and the Company stands behind the safety and efficacy of its vaccine,” the company said, adding that it believes Florida’s claims have no merit.
The civil case follows a Florida statewide grand jury investigation requested by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Its final report, released in January 2025, produced no indictments and said it found no evidence of criminal activity by vaccine manufacturers, although it criticized aspects of vaccine development, safety monitoring, and pharmaceutical regulation.
Florida’s action also joins existing state litigation rather than opening a new legal front nationally. Texas sued Pfizer in 2023, while Kansas brought its own consumer-protection case in 2024.
