Pfizer will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, and the rest will be delivered by July 31 at the latest, according to a press release.
Through this agreement, the federal government will purchase 200 million doses of Pfizer / BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for $ 4 billion. The vaccine is 95% effective against coronavirus after two doses a few weeks apart.
The agreement includes an option for another 400 million doses of vaccine, HHS said. Pfizer said the US government will pay $ 1.95 billion for the additional $ 100 million.
Last week, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said negotiations to purchase more coronavirus vaccines were complicated by Pfizer supply chain problems, making it more difficult for the company to produce 100 million more doses of spring. Pfizer sought help from OWS to provide essential materials to deliver the vaccine on an accelerated schedule.
On Wednesday, an HHS spokesman told CNN in a statement that the Trump administration is using its authorities under the Defense Production Act to “prioritize access to critical materials and supplies needed to expand vaccine production.”
The statement said that Operation Warp Speed uses the “selective enforcement of DPA authorities” to facilitate the production of the six vaccines it supports, including the Pfizer vaccine.
The Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine was the first to receive an emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration. Hundreds of thousands of doses of the vaccine were given last week.
The Trump administration faced criticism after the New York Times reported that the US government failed to deliver another 100 million doses when Pfizer offered the option over the summer. The administration rejected reports that it had rejected this offer from Pfizer.