Art-Activist Collective Berlin Buyers Club and Long Covid Long Haulers Stage Third Protestin Berlin
Berlin, 27 September 2024 – Today, Berlin Buyers Club, in collaboration with Long Covid long haulers, organised their third protest, this time in front of the Berlin Pfizer office at Friedrichstrasse 110. The demonstration, dubbed "Die-in at Pfizer," called for urgent action from the pharmaceutical giant, demanding a drastic price reduction for Paxlovid, immediate funding for research into Long Covid and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (MECFS), and a commitment to prioritise human lives over profit.
The demands are critical as the prohibitive pricing of Paxlovid, a potentially life-saving antiviral for COVID-19, has rendered it inaccessible to many. Since the price of a five-day course of Paxlovid skyrocketed from €60 to €1,149 earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of doses have expired in storage, while many people who could benefit from the drug have been left without access. Moreover, doctors are increasingly hesitant to prescribe it due to its high cost, even though timely treatment with Paxlovid could reduce the risk of developing Long Covid or other serious complications.
"Pfizer’s greed kills!"
Protesters gathered in front of Pfizer's Berlin office, lying down in a symbolic "die-in" to represent the lives lost due to the company's pricing practices. They carried banners demanding action, including one striking poster that read, "While you wait around, people are dying," with "Pfailure" written in the style of Pfizer's iconic logo.
Despite being invited, no representatives from Pfizer's management appeared at the demonstration. One of the organisers attempted to call the head office and rang the doorbell, but there was no response. Pfizer’s inaction, however, was noted as the protest attracted attention from the company's security team, with 2-3 employees sent to observe from a distance.
The fight for treatment and research into Long Covid and MECFS
The protesters called on Pfizer to reduce the price of Paxlovid to ensure it is accessible to all who need it, particularly those at risk of developing Long Covid or those already affected. The demonstrators also highlighted Pfizer's moral obligation to fund research into Long Covid and MECFS, given the company’s record-breaking profits during the pandemic. Despite millions suffering from the after-effects of COVID-19, research into these debilitating conditions remains severely underfunded.
“Pfizer has a responsibility to act,” said one of the protest organisers. “Their greed is directly costing lives. We are here to demand that they stop prioritising profit margins and start prioritising the health and well-being of people affected by this pandemic.”
The demonstration is part of an ongoing effort to pressure the governments as well as major pharmaceutical companies to make life-saving treatments like Paxlovid more affordable and to invest in crucial research for chronic post-viral conditions.
This protest marks the third such demonstration by the Berlin Buyers Club and their allies. Their mission is clear: corporations that profited from the pandemic must be held accountable and ensure access to affordable medication while actively funding solutions for the ongoing health crisis.
