COVID-19 Vaccine Purchases Increase Around the World

Pfizer and BioNTech, and Moderna have announced agreements to further supply vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to populations around the world.^1,2

According to Pfizer and BioNTech, the European Commission has exercised an option outlined in the Advanced Purchase Agreement signed November 11, 2020, to purchase an additional 100 million doses of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty), the companies’ vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The new action increases the number of doses to be supplied to the European Union’s 27 member states to 300 million.¹

“The additional 100 million doses will be delivered in 2021 supporting the vaccination campaigns which [has] started in all 27 member states. Our goal remains to bring a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as we can all around the world,” said Ugur Sahin, MD, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, in a prepared statement.¹

The additional vaccine doses will be produced in BioNTech’s and Pfizer’s manufacturing sites in Europe.¹

“We remain committed to moving as quickly and safely as possible to bring this vaccine to more people in Europe, as the deadly virus continues to spread at an alarming rate,” said Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO, Pfizer, in a prepared statement. “In partnership with the European Commission, member states and health care providers, we will be able to reach a total of 150 million Europeans across the continent.”¹

Additionally, Moderna has entered into a supply agreement with the government of the Republic of Korea to provide 40 million doses of its’ COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, to be provided to the public in that country. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, deliveries would begin in May 2021. According to Moderna, the mRNA-1273 vaccine is not currently approved for use in South Korea, and the company will work with regulators to pursue the necessary approvals prior to distribution.²

“We thank the Republic of Korea for partnering with us to bring the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to South Korea. The government has moved very swiftly to get this done in the face of the pandemic. We believe this supply agreement is an important step towards building a long-lasting future collaboration between Moderna and the Republic of Korea,” said Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a prepared statement.²

Neither vaccine is approved by the FDA. However, both Pfizer's and BioNTech’s BNT162b2 and Moderna’s mRNA-1273 have been granted Emergency Use Authorization in the United States for the prevention of COVID-19, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).^1,2

Pfizer's and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is indicated for individuals aged 16 years and older.¹ Moderna’s vaccine is authorized for individuals aged 18 years and older.²

REFERENCES

• Pfizer and BioNTech to Supply the European Union with 100 Million Additional Doses of COMIRNATY® [news release]. New York, NY, and Mainz, Germany; December 29, 2020: Pfizer. Accessed December 31, 2020. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-supply-european-union-100-million
• Moderna Confirms 40 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Supply Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Korea [news release]. Cambridge, MA; December 31, 2020: Moderna. Accessed December 31, 2020. https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-confirms-40-million-covid-19-vaccine-dose-supply