Friday 7 October 2022 05:43 PM Covid-19: Pfizer faces backlash for creating pro-vaccine Marvel comic trends now

Friday 7 October 2022 05:43 PM Covid-19: Pfizer faces backlash for creating pro-vaccine Marvel comic trends now
Friday 7 October 2022 05:43 PM Covid-19: Pfizer faces backlash for creating pro-vaccine Marvel comic trends now

Friday 7 October 2022 05:43 PM Covid-19: Pfizer faces backlash for creating pro-vaccine Marvel comic trends now

Pfizer's Covid vaccine comic was today slammed as 'ethically dubious in the extreme' for trying to appeal to children.

The pharmaceutical giant partnered with Marvel to release the 'Everyday Heroes' strip yesterday, in a push to encourage people to get a booster jab.

It features the Avengers fighting off the villain Ultron, in a symbolic metaphor of Pfizer's push against Covid with the vaccine.

The comic's release comes amid sluggish uptake of the booster vaccine in the US.

Pfizer said the comic was attempting to encourage people to 'protect themselves' by 'staying up to date' with their jabs. 

Pfizer has released a Marvel-themed story to explain how its Covid vaccine works. It features a grandfather and his family who get a Covid vaccine (bottom), the Avengers who represent the Covid vaccines (middle) and Ironman (in red, shown above) who represents the new Covid vaccine, and Ultron (top left) who represents Covid's evolution

Pfizer has released a Marvel-themed story to explain how its Covid vaccine works. It features a grandfather and his family who get a Covid vaccine (bottom), the Avengers who represent the Covid vaccines (middle) and Ironman (in red, shown above) who represents the new Covid vaccine, and Ultron (top left) who represents Covid's evolution

The grandpa is shown waiting at a clinic for his Covid vaccine with his family when a newsflash comes on warning over Ultron — or Omicron

The grandpa is shown waiting at a clinic for his Covid vaccine with his family when a newsflash comes on warning over Ultron — or Omicron

Professor David Livermore, a former medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he is 'deeply saddened' by the PR stunt

Professor David Livermore, a former medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he is 'deeply saddened' by the PR stunt

The comic ends with the grandpa smiling after receiving his updated booster vaccine, with the Avengers in the background being cheered by crowds

The comic ends with the grandpa smiling after receiving his updated booster vaccine, with the Avengers in the background being cheered by crowds

What are the risks of Covid and vaccines to five-year-olds?

Covid

Most children only experience mild symptoms after being infected with Covid, which has led to intense debates over whether it is worth vaccinating them.

Experts estimate as few as 0.001 per cent of all youngsters who get infected will die,. 

Children as young as five are eligible for two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in Britain.

Some children at high risk of severe Covid are also eligible for a booster dose if they have already had two.

Infants younger than five are not eligible for jabs.

Health chiefs deliberated the benefit-risk ratio for months, before eventually deciding that children could get them. 

The JCVI's previous advice on recommending the boosters to over-12s suggested one dose of the Pfizer vaccine only prevents 131 hospitalisations per million vaccinations in 12- to 15-year-olds.

And second doses only prevent

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