Pfizer says it can deliver 10% more COVID-19 vaccines end of May

PFIZER has ramped up production of its COVID-19 vaccine and can deliver 10 per cent more doses than expected to the United States by the end of May, its Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla said yesterday.

 That would bring its delivery by the end of next month to 220 million doses, and Bourla said on Twitter, the pharmaceutical giant can also supply the full 300 million agreed on for the end of July two weeks early.”

  The news comes after United States health authorities earlier yesterday called for a pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, after six women between  the ages of 18 and 48 developed a rare type of blood clot that left one dead and another in critical condition.

  The White House said it was confident there would be no significant impact on the vaccination plan in the world’s hardest-hit country, where almost half of all adults have now received at least one dose.

  President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 response coordinator, Jeff Zients said that a huge surplus in the supply of two other vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna meant the country could easily take up the slack.

Biden has promised doses would be available for all adults in the country by the end of May, and in addition to the doses of the Pfizer vaccine developed with German firm BioNTech, Washington has also ordered 300 million doses of Moderna’s jab.

  The United States had ordered 100 million doses from Johnson & Johnson.