Pfizer was awarded the National Medal of Technology for developing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine. Theobald Smith Society member Annaliesa Anderson, Senior Vice President and Head, Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, represented Pfizer at the award ceremony. Regarding their work, Annaliesa posted this on LinkedIn:
“I was honored and humbled to represent Pfizer alongside my colleague Alejandra Gurtman at The White House and receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement. This award recognizes the innovative work of thousands of Pfizer colleagues who developed the first authorized COVID-19 vaccine and helped turn the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While developing the first authorized vaccine and an oral antiviral treatment in response to COVID-19 is undoubtedly two of our most vital recent breakthroughs, this accomplishment is just one reflection of the unwavering dedication to innovation Pfizer has maintained since our founding 175 years ago. In that time, we’ve been at the forefront of breakthroughs that have not only changed billions of patient lives and positively impacted public health, but also shaped history with the transformational power of science.
From offering our treatments during the American Civil War in the 19th Century to the mass production of penicillin during World War II — and playing a pivotal role in eliminating or nearly eliminating deadly infectious diseases like polio and smallpox globally — we have always stepped up to meet the nation’s and the world’s most urgent needs.
I am proud of this heritage and how we continue today taking on the most pressing health challenges and investing in innovation that will help us deliver the next generation of breakthroughs. This award recognizes how our work can be a global force for good – something we have strived for since the beginning and will never lose sight of.”