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AGI – The news of the effectiveness of 90% of coronavirus vaccine developed by american Pfizer and from german Biontech It is “the beginning of the end of the problems”, said the British prime minister, Boris johnson. At least, it will be for the countries that have booked it, not many (and all in the rich “first world”) but enough to throw the two companies another colossal challenge: producing enough to meet already huge demand. when the vaccine is still in the experimental stage and could be duplicated with the exercise of the options of additional quantities included in the contracts.
Let’s give some numbers. The European Union had ordered 200 million doses and is willing to exercise the option for another 100,000. The United Kingdom had asked for 30 million but today Johnson speaks of 40 million. The United States, which was betting heavily on Moderna’s vaccine, has ordered 100 million doses but has the option of going up to 500 million. Japan has reserved 30 million doses and Canada another 20, with the option of reaching 76 million.
Doing a quick calculation, if all options are exercised, we are talking about almost a billion doses. With the best possible effort, Pfizer and Biontech hope to produce 1.3 billion doses next year. It should also be remembered that Biontech is working with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group to sell the vaccine in China as well.
The two companies have made it known that before the end of the year they can be vaccinated, in the best of cases, 25 million people, equivalent to less than a third of the population of Germany. “We will have to make sure that we find a way to distribute the vaccine fairly,” said Biontech CEO Ugur Sahin. The vaccine also requires very low temperatures for proper storage, which will make distribution difficult.
The truth is that, if the G7 raises all the production planned for 2021, there will be none for South America, for Africa, for almost all of Asia. Moderna and AstraZeneca, the other two western companies that are further ahead in the test, will have to try to get there earlier. China and guarantee a distribution also based on a humanitarian logic. Otherwise, the Dragon will face an incredible opportunity to expand his already overwhelming soft power to the poorest areas of the world.
In the great vaccine race, however, for the moment it seems impossible Russia, who also sent some doses of his own Sputnik V to allied nations like Venezuela. According to reports from various medical sources to Reuters in recent days, the production of the Russian vaccine cannot even cope with the demand needed to complete the experimental phase. It will not be a coincidence that, following the rumors, the Kremlin has forced medical personnel to speak to the press only after proper consultation with the authorities.
