COVID-19 vaccine makers are increasing production, producing far more doses per week than at the beginning of the year, a progress that is accelerating mass vaccination campaigns in the United States.
After a slow start, Pfizer Inc. PFE,
your partner BioNTech SE BNTX,
and Moderna Inc. MRNA,
they increased production by gaining experience, expanding production lines and carrying out other steps, such as the manufacture of certain raw materials on their own.
Pfizer figured out how to stretch the scarce supplies of special filters needed for the vaccine production process by recycling them. Moderna has reduced the time needed to inspect and pack the newly manufactured vials of its vaccine.
The companies, together with Johnson & Johnson JNJ,
which recently launched a Covid-19 vaccine – is also teaming up with other companies to further increase production.
In addition, the US government has helped vaccine manufacturers have access to supplies under the Defense Production Act, say suppliers and government officials. The Biden administration said this month that it used the law to provide $ 105 million in financing to help Merck & Co. MRK,
make dosages of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine and streamline the materials used in its production.
U.S. monthly production for the three authorized vaccines is expected to reach 132 million doses in March, almost triple the 48 million doses in February, according to estimates by Evercore ISI analysts.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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