BioNTech, Pfizer boost COVID-19 vaccine goal in 2021 to 2 billion doses

German drugmaker BioNTech on January 11 said that it expects to produce nearly two billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year which is a major hike from previous forecast of 1.3 billion doses. BioNTech-Pfizer’s vaccine against highly infectious disease was also world’s first jab to be approved in West. 

As per reoprts, referring to additional dose that could be extracted from each vial of vaccine, German pharmaceutical company said that doses in 2021 will incorporate updated 6-dose label. 

capacity will be mainly boosted by 750 million doses by new site in Marburg, Germany, that was acquired from vartis in September. It will reportedly become functional by end-February. Furr, reportedly additional capacity by contractors who will be supplying ingredients and fill developed substance into vials had also contributed to enhancing company’s target for 2021.

German company also said that its slides that 32.9 million doses had even been shipped as per January 10. company spokesperson reportedly said that at least 50 million doses had been produced at end of 2020, that was previously planned but delivered were put on hold to avoid excess stor time.

"We w believe that we can potentially deliver approximately 2 billion doses in total by end of 2021, which incorporates updated 6-dose label," said BioNTech.

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EU orders 300 million more doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Meanwhile, after securing a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for 300 million extra doses of COVID-19 vaccine, EU leaders are to hold a pandemic video summit on January 21. On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had said that agreement with US-based pharmaceutical company will double number of doses already ordered by 27-nation bloc. w, move has raised hopes for speedier iculation across continent and has also eased criticism that EU’s executive arm has t done eugh to procure COVID-19 shots for entire bloc. 

"This would enable EU to purchase up to 600 million doses of this vaccine, which is already being used across EU. additional doses will be delivered starting in second quarter of 2021," European Union said.

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