Wall Street Journal and Reuters are reporting that a number of COVID-19 vaccine developers, including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna plan to issue a public pledge that they will not seek government approval until their vaccines are proven to be safe and effective.
Can you imagine any other time that major, competing companies would collaborate on a statement like that? In effect, telling the American people that, although the government might lie about a vaccine’s readiness, the private manufacturer will not.
In a business context, this is pure Twilight Zone.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that these companies are displaying this integrity. Or at least I’m glad that they don’t want to sully their brand for the next few decades.
Whether out of integrity or self interest, i’ts still jarring to witness.