Germany’s interior minister, Horst Seehofer, was asked at a news conference Sunday whether he could confirm that the U.S. had tried to take over a German vaccine company for a large amount of money.
On Sunday, Germany Newspaper, citing unidentified German government sources, reported that a meeting between pharmaceutical managers and U.S. President Donald Trump took place in early March. It said Trump apparently was offering the German firm a large amount to secure its work for the U.S.
A German company working on a potential vaccine for the new Coronavirus denied reports Monday that the U.S. government was angling to acquire it, while German officials sought to ease tensions fueled by the story by insisting the firm would stay in the country.
“I can only say that I have heard repeatedly today from members of the government that this is true,” he replied. Economy Minister Peter Altmaier, speaking on ARD television, said that “Germany is not for sale.”
Meantime the U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, tweeted that “the Welt story was wrong.”
On Monday when asked about the various officials’ statements, a spokeswoman for Altmaier, Beate Baron, said the government’s position was that new vaccines “must be available for everyone, and this cannot be about exclusivity.” She added that she didn’t have “sufficient information” to confirm that there was an offer.
For most people, the Coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and they recover fully. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
