Pfizer will ship fewer vials of COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. after it was discovered that each vial actually contained an extra unplanned dose, according to the pharmaceutical company.
Pharmacists discovered in December that they could extract a sixth extra dose from each vial of the Pfizer vaccine; on January 6, the Food and Drug Administration responded to Pfizer’s request to update the vaccine information leaflet to make it clear that there is a sixth dose in the vials.
The move means that Pfizer will be able to ship fewer bottles to fulfill its commitment to supply the US with 200 million doses by the end of July.
“We will fulfill our supply commitments under our existing agreements – which are based on delivering doses, not bottles – and we are confident in our ability to deliver 200 million doses of our vaccine to the U.S. government by July 31,” A Pfizer spokeswoman said in a statement to The Post.
“In a situation of limited vaccine supply in the midst of a public health crisis, our intention with this change of label is to provide clarity to healthcare professionals, minimize vaccine waste and allow more efficient use of the vaccine,” added the spokesperson.