Pfizer’s Albert Burla: A matter of time to end the coronavirus en

The most optimistic message of the victory of science over coronavirus and the pandemic, sent their eve Christmas its chairman and CEO Pfizer, Albert Burla. THE Albert Burla appealed to Greeks to observe reverently protection measures because “we are nearing the end of his adventure coronavirus ». He also spoke about the company’s vaccine Pfizer towards the new ones mutations of coronavirus but also for the large investment of the company in Thessaloniki.

“Until we get to this point please everyone, wear masks, observe them instructions given to you by the health authorities. “We are in the last stage, it would be a pity for some to suffer health adventures and lose people because they did not pay attention in the last few days,” he said in the central bulletin of ERT1. To the question of whether we are reaching the end of his pandemic coronavirus he was adamant: “I believe it firmly. It may take some time, but at the moment the solutions we have in our hands are so effective that it is only a matter of time before we reach the end “. Mr. Μπουρλά noted that the traditions of vaccines will start immediately and estimated that the Hellas by the end of the year will receive “between 90 and 100,000 doses».

“It simply came to our notice then 2 million doses corresponding to Greece or 1.9, something like that, from the 200 million received by the European Join… », Noting at the same time that the European Union has the right to ask 100 million extra “Which we will do everything we can to give them.” Mr Bourla was also clear on the issue of safety regarding the distribution of vaccines.

“I am absolutely fine sure that they will be done with the proper ones standards security, we check every detail until the last stage of delivery of these vaccines, so I have no doubt about it. Also, I hope that despite the fact that the mission is a giant project vaccines in so many countries of the world at the same time, I think everything will go according to plan. So far there have been no problems when we shipped to England or America, which is quite complicated, so I think everything will go well “.

Beware of coronavirus mutation – Vaccination optimism

About the recent mutation of virus and the potential to affect their effectiveness vaccines its head Pfizer she was careful, pointing out that it takes some time for her final details research “I think that in order to understand how dangerous it is, it will take some time to better understand this new executive that has been developed. “As far as vaccines are concerned, I am moderately optimistic that this strain will be just as effective, but we do not know for sure at the moment. “I think I have seen evidence that makes me can say that I am moderately optimistic but we will have definitive evidence as to whether the vaccines are the same or more effective in this strain in no more than two weeks.”

At the same time, he explained, “we will have enough data from the completion of the experiments we are doing at the moment to see if it is just as effective, or more, or less, the vaccine against this young man virus». Mr. Bourla assured that if some adjustments are needed, they will be made very quickly. “I believe that it will be relatively fast if needed but at the moment I am moderately optimistic that it will not be needed we just have to wait two weeks to confirm it. “

Vaccines by effort and not by luck

In personal tones, he confessed “I feel blessed that I found myself in this position and at this juncture and I managed, together with all our staff, to rise to the occasion. It is a very big, deep feeling that I feel “. He stressed, however, that the development of the vaccine it was not a matter of luck“It was an effort specific, people knew what they were doing, we faced thousands of problems and we had to solve all the problems as they came to us. As in any such project, what plays a major role, especially for the leader, is to make his people believe that it can be done. “

Pfizer investment plans in Thessaloniki

For its investment plans Pfizer in Thessaloniki He stressed: “We are very satisfied with the applications that have been made and with the people that we finally hired, which is a small percentage of those who applied. You should know that around 20% of the applications were Greeks abroad, who wanted to return to Greece. But this achievement, or rather the results of the first attempt to create a digital research center in Thessaloniki, because we were so happy, we decided to create a second center which will be an in-company service center, services for Pfizer that will be given from Thessaloniki to the whole world. And this second center will employ at least 350 people, so we are talking about about 600 people in the first phase that we will hire in Thessaloniki and I feel very proud “.

He referred to her hometown in a very warm way Thessaloniki. «It is my homeland, is the place where I have all my good friends. My good friends are from the high school years, it is the place where I have my relatives, my sister, my nieces. “It’s the city I love more than any other in the world.” He also revealed what they were asking him and what he was answering to them Thessalonians who were anxious “They asked me all the things that everyone asks. When will we have vaccine, if I think we will have a vaccine, if I think it will be safe, if I think the pandemic will end, if I think we will find cures and of course, because they love me, they also asked me how I am doing, if I can withstand the pressure, if they can do for me all the things you expect “. He modestly answered the question whether he can withstand the pressure caused by the huge project “I think I can withstand”, he stressed.