Health Canada announced its approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 9. Earlier, the news that the same vaccine was approved in the United Kingdom—and that others weren’t far behind—was a relief to many people all over the world—or at least those in developed countries that can afford the vaccine. The arrival of the vaccine also seems to have boosted public approval for the pharmaceutical industry. Globally, the industry’s “trust and like score” grew to more than 68 percent of people surveyed in 2020 from 65 percent in 2018. The bump in the industry’s score was probably helped by the September joint pledge from nine companies that they would “stand with science” and not try to get a vaccine approved until it had been thoroughly tested for efficacy and safety. This statement was widely seen as the companies standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump, who was making promises about an “October surprise” in …