DNA Sequence in Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Could Spur New Lawsuits: Lawyers

Pfizer is among the possible defendants, one lawyer says.

A woman walks by Pfizer's headquarters in New York City in a file image. Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech could be open to lawsuits for including a DNA sequence in their COVID-19 vaccine.

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, known as the PREP Act, largely shields COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits, but companies can be sued for “willful misconduct,” which includes acts taken “intentionally to achieve a wrongful purpose.”