Covid-19: the government signs an agreement for the purchase of 1.5 million vaccines

The government has signed its first Covid-19 purchase agreement, securing 1.5 million doses, enough for 750,000 people, from Pfizer and BioNTech.

The deal, which is subject to the vaccine successfully completing all clinical trials and passing New Zealand regulatory approval, could see doses delivered as early as the first quarter of next year.

While the cost has not been disclosed, the government has indicated that it would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure an effective vaccine.

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said the agreement “makes some of the fundamental work that goes on behind the scenes a reality.”

READ MORE:
* Covid-19: WHO says ‘there is hope’ that a coronavirus vaccine will be ready by the end of the year
* Covid-19: 559 invoices for quarantine and managed isolation sent, but only 23 paid
* Coronavirus: New Zealand places its latest bet in the global race for a Covid-19 vaccine
* Coronavirus: New Zealand signs an agreement for the Covid-19 vaccine for half the population

“As part of the agreement, delivery of vaccines to New Zealand could be as early as the first quarter of 2021. This is just the first tranche of work in a multi-pronged approach to ensure we secure vaccines for New Zealanders,” Woods said.

Anne Harris, Pfizer New Zealand Country Manager, said the company is “deeply honored” to be working with the New Zealand government to supply the candidate BNT162 mRNA-based vaccine in 2021.

Last month, Pfizer expanded its phase three trial from 30,000 to around 44,000 participants, introducing people from new populations and adolescents up to 16 years of age, as well as people with chronic stable HIV and hepatitis C or B.

Should the vaccine successfully pass through clinical trials and gain regulatory clearance or approval, the companies plan to supply up to 100 million doses worldwide by the end of 2020 and around 1.3 billion doses by the end of next. year.

It was estimated that around 70 percent of the world’s population, 5.5 billion people, will need immunity to the virus to stop the pandemic.

“In the face of this global health crisis, Pfizer’s purpose, life-changing advancements for patients, has taken on even greater urgency. Our hope is that, subject to clinical and regulatory success, our vaccine will make this happen, ”Harris said.

The announcement follows the recent signing of a $ 27 million agreement to guarantee Covid-19 vaccines for half the population of COVAX facilities.

Led by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, COVAX is a public-private organization made up of members such as the World Health Organization, Unicef ​​and the World Bank.

The agreement with Pfizer is “complementary to other aspects of the government’s Covid-19 vaccination strategy,” including the COVAX facility, which could provide vaccines for half of our population, including our Pacific neighbors, Woods said.

Negotiations with other drug companies are underway, and Woods indicates that more announcements are expected next month.

Decisions on who would receive access to the first available vaccines have yet to be made, and work is now under way on what an immunization program might look like, Health Minister Chris Hipkins explained.

“Several factors will influence who will get what vaccines and when, such as [a] date of the trial on the suitability of each vaccine for certain age groups.

“We have set aside $ 66.3 million for medical supplies and infrastructure to ensure New Zealand is ready to launch a program as soon as we have a safe and effective vaccine.

“Most of this investment will pay for sufficient supplies to support the countries of New Zealand and the Pacific Realm. Supplies like PPE, needles, syringes and swabs, and freezers to store a vaccine, ”Hipkins said.