Senate Resolution No. 981

BY: Senator REICHLIN-MELNICK

COMMENDING Pfizer's role in the first vaccine
authorized to prevent COVID-19

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those
businesses within the State of New York which distinguish themselves
through outstanding professional behavior, corporate innovation, and
enduring commitment to the community; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Pfizer's role in the first vaccine authorized to prevent
COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic has affected each and every person
across the globe; and

WHEREAS, It is a historic moment for science and also for humanity;
and

WHEREAS, On December 11th, Pfizer and BioNTech celebrated a historic
Emergency Use Authorization in the US of a vaccine to prevent COVID-19;
and

WHEREAS, It was the first first vaccine candidate authorized that
uses mRNA technology and the first vaccine authorized for use to prevent
COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, This vaccine was developed and authorized in less than a
year following rigorous research and development standards; and

WHEREAS, Pearl River (Rockland County, NY) is home to Pfizer's
Global Vaccine R&D headquarters and houses over 800 colleagues, more
than 600 of whom are dedicated to vaccine research and development;

WHEREAS, The site is the primary research and development center for
Pfizer, housing activities associated with the Pfizer/BioNTech
mRNA-based vaccine candidate aimed at preventing COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, We are humbled by the tremendous work led by the team at
Pearl River and many others to help address and hopefully end this
devastating pandemic; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the recent work on COVID-19, Pfizer Vaccine
R&D is also applying leading-edge science towards helping fight other
diseases and to bring breakthrough prophylactic and viral vaccines to
vulnerable people of all ages; and

WHEREAS, Along with the Vaccine R&D efforts, the Pearl River site
also is a key Pfizer manufacturing site, focused on cancer therapeutics;
and

WHEREAS, The work being done today is continuing more than a century
of innovation that has had life-changing impact around the world, as in

1907, when Dr. Ernst Lederle established the Pearl River site to produce
antiserum to treat children with diphtheria in New York City; and

WHEREAS, In 1941, Pfizer responded to an appeal from the United
States government to expedite the manufacture of penicillin to treat
Allied soldiers fighting in World War II, and, of the companies pursuing
mass production of penicillin, Pfizer alone used fermentation technology
as a result of which, in 1944, Pfizer succeeded in mass producing
penicillin and becoming the world's largest producer of penicillin; and

WHEREAS, Pfizer has developed vaccines to prevent diseases like
smallpox and polio and other deadly infectious diseases;and

WHEREAS, Pfizer and all its colleagues are applying science to
advance breakthroughs that change patients' lives; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity
to recognize Pfizer, and its expert staff, for its long and sustained
commitment to the health and welfare of the citizens of the world, as it
continues to provide new and outstanding medical services which benefit
so many; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the vital importance of
Pfizer in providing excellence in care through prevention, education and
treatment, and its evident commitment to this mission; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Pfizer's role in the first vaccine authorized to prevent
COVID-19; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Pfizer.