A boy in Cork has received a reply from US drugmaker Pfizer after writing to ask if they would send doses of their Covid-19 vaccine to the North Pole to 'save Christmas'.
Six-year-old Callum Thornhill penned the letter in early November when he heard the vaccine was being developed, according to the Irish Examiner, receiving a reply from the company's Irish operations in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork and their American CEO.
Callum's mother, Paula Linehan told the Examiner the response has made his Christmas, saying he never expected to hear back from them.
Pfizer's vaccine, developed with German company BioNTech received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission earlier this week, giving it the go-ahead for distribution in Ireland over the coming days.
Callum's letter read: "Dear Pfizer, I heard you made a new vaccine for coronavirus. Good job.
"Can you please send some to the North Pole for Santa and his elves, please? We want to save Christmas and make all the kids happy."
Two weeks later, Callum received a parcel containing a response from the company, accompanied by an art pack as a gift.
The letter from the Pfizer Ringaskiddy site leader thanked the boy from Glanmire for his letter, saying they too were grateful for the "many scientists and engineers around the world that continue to work tirelessly to develop and manufacture vaccines and treatment for Covid-19".
The letter added Callum's kind words would "continue to spur us all on" before saying they had been in contact with Santa and that everyone in the North Pole is safe and well, and he is ready to deliver all his presents on Christmas Eve.
The letter ended by saying Santa has put all children on the good list this year, as they have behaved so well throughout the pandemic.
Following the letter from Pfizer's Cork team, the company's American CEO Albert Bourla shared a post on LinkedIn, containing a picture of Callum's letter, saying messages from children "brimming with compassion and hope" remind them of why their work is so important.
Mr Boula said: "We are doing everything we can to help bring hope to people around the world. And we will make sure to take care of Santa and his elves, too."
