US secures deal for 100 million more doses of Pfizer Covid vaccine
New agreement means US government can secure up to 400 million more doses
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Your support makes all the difference.The Unites States has secured an additional 100 million doses of the Covid vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech.
The drugmakers said Wednesday that they expect to deliver all the doses by July 31, following a deal with the US government.
Pfizer has already agreed to supply the government with 100 million doses of its vaccine.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement that the latest deal can give people confidence "that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021."
The vaccine was the first to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and initial shipments went to states last week.
It was reported on Tuesday that the drugmaker was closing-in on a new deal with the United States, whose decision to turn-down an offer of additional doses several months ago was widely criticised.
Under the $2 billion (£1.5 billion) deal announced Wednesday, the companies will deliver at least 70 million of the additional doses by June 30, with the remaining 30 million doses to be delivered no later than July 31.
The US government also has the option to acquire up to an additional 400 million doses.
A second vaccine, produced by the American pharmaceutical company Moderna, was approved last week.
It was developed in closer cooperation with scientists from the National Institutes of Health and the Trump administration, under the initiative called Operation Warp Speed.
Pfizer’s new deal will allow the US government to vaccinate millions more people in the first half of 2021, with aims to vaccinate all Americans by the summer.
"With these 100 million additional doses, the United States will be able to protect more individuals and hopefully end this devastating pandemic more quickly," said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in a statement.
"We look forward to continuing our work with the US government and healthcare providers around the country."
Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
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