Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech will supply the United States with 100 million more doses of its coronavirus vaccine this summer, after lengthy negotiations over how much companies could deliver, given their commitments to other nations.
The $ 1.95 billion deal doubles the United States’ general order for the vaccine to 200 million doses. Pfizer and BioNTech said they could deliver 70 million doses by June 30, 2021, with the remaining 30 million doses delivered by the end of July.
The expanded agreement comes a week after Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that Pfizer was dealing with “manufacturing challenges”, a charge the company has vehemently denied. “Pfizer had no production problems with its COVID-19 vaccine, and no shipment containing the vaccine is on hold or behind schedule,” said a spokesman.