Yes, I realize that. My comment was in response to the criticism of these companies being funded by tax dollars while being granted a patent. The implication being that we're paying (as taxpayers) but getting nothing in return since we would have to pay for the vaccine anyway.

My response is that we're getting the vaccine for free in return.

That said, I'm not sure that it's actually going to be free. That's just what I heard. I should point that out - I don't want to propagate bad info.