The Trump administration has ordered another 100 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, Pfizer announced Wednesday.
Under the agreement, Pfizer and BioNTech will supply a total of 200 million doses to the U.S., the company said in a statement. The deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of July 2021. The deal will also give the government the option to buy up to 400 million more doses.
“With these 100 million additional doses, the United States will be able to protect more individuals and hopefully end this devastating pandemic more quickly,” Pfizer chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing our work with the U.S. government and healthcare providers around the country.”
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“Securing more doses from Pfizer and BioNTech for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 further expands our supply of doses across the Operation Warp Speed portfolio,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement.
“This new federal purchase can give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021,” Azar added.
The announcement comes shortly after the Trump administration was reported to be nearing a deal to secure tens of millions more doses of the vaccine ahead of schedule.
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The development, which was first reported by The New York Times late Tuesday, would help the government offset an expected vaccine shortfall of more than 100 million doses by the spring as part of public health officials’ quest to vaccinate every American by the middle of next year.
Pfizer’s vaccine was the first to gain authorization for emergency use from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the first doses of which were administered to doctors, nurses and some public officials earlier this month.
The agreement would reportedly include the federal government utilizing the Defense Production Act, a decades-old law that allows the executive branch to direct private companies to make goods in times of national crisis or war. Such authorization would eliminate red tape and help Pfizer secure raw materials needed for manufacturing the vaccine.
The company estimates that if it can gain access to those materials, it can make 70 million additional doses.
Representatives for the company have been trying to broker a deal with the federal government since September, and have been frustrated by a lack of response, the Times reported.
Separately, a second vaccine made by pharmaceutical company Moderna was authorized for emergency use by the FDA last week and has been rolled out for usage as part of the government’s aggressive Operation Warp Speed program.
Operation Warp Speed is on track to vaccinate 40 million Americans by the end of the month, according to The Associated Press.
Pfizer would not confirm its ongoing negotiations with the federal government regarding additional vaccine doses.
“We continue to work collaboratively with the U.S. government to get doses of our COVID-19 vaccine to as many Americans as possible,” the company said in a statement. “The company is not able to comment on any confidential discussions that may be taking place with the U.S. government.”
President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenNewsom taps Shirley Weber to serve as California secretary of state White House wishes Birx well after she announces retirement Karl Rove tears into Michael Flynn, Sidney Powell over election claims MORE, who himself received the coronavirus vaccine this week, has pledged to continue the Trump administration’s aggressive vaccination program, vowing to immunize 100 million Americans in 100 days.
–Dominick Mastrangelo and Nathaniel Weixel contributed to this report, which was updated at 8:04 a.m.