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Vaccine manufacturers apparently want to quickly forget about the uneven start of vaccination in the European Union. First, AstraZeneca announced that it would deliver an additional eight million cans. And now Biontech even promises 75 million more cans for the EU.
“We continue to work to increase deliveries beginning the week of February 15 to ensure the contractually agreed delivery of the full quantity of vaccine doses in the first quarter,” said Sierk Poetting, Biontech’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer. “We could also deliver up to 75 million more cans to the European Union in the second quarter.”
Based on the applicable EU distribution key, Germany accounts for 18.6 percent of this. Therefore, the Federal Republic can expect an additional 13.95 million doses of vaccine.
The delivery comes from Biontech’s recent EU order for more than 200 million cans. Of this, 75 million should arrive in the second quarter and, therefore, earlier than expected.
The EU had come under massive criticism for being too late and receiving too few orders for vaccines. Manufacturers also had to justify themselves because promises were not fully kept.
Poetting, the man at Biontech, justifies the fact that more vaccines can now be administered than initially thought:
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First, the adaptation of the production processes at the Pfizer plant in Puurs, Belgium was completed successfully. “Now we can re-implement the original plan for the delivery of vaccine doses to the European Union.”
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Second, the Biontech production plant in Marburg has received a manufacturing license. “Production for the EMA validation can start there in February according to our planning.”
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Third, the company has expanded its European production network, from three partners in December 2020, when Biontech received its first approvals, to currently 13 partners (including the Marburg plant). “We are expanding this network and are currently in discussions with other qualified partners about potential new deals.”
Biontech even promises a 50 percent production increase worldwide. “To meet the growing global demand, we plan to produce two billion doses of our Covid-19 vaccine in 2021,” Poetting said. “To do this, we will increase the previously planned production of 1.3 billion vaccine doses by more than 50 percent. Measures to expand our production capacity are going as planned. “
