HHS Makes Deal For Up To 600M COVID Vax Doses

The Washington Post reports:

Biotechnical companies Pfizer and BioNTech announced an agreement with the U.S. government Wednesday morning to distribute up to 600 million doses of a jointly produced vaccine for the novel coronavirus starting in December, through 2021.

Through the deal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Department will pay $1.95 billion for the first 100 million doses of BNT162, the covid-19 vaccine candidate, once Pfizer manufactures it and the Food and Drug Administration approves it. The United States could get up to 500 million more doses.

“Expanding Operation Warp Speed’s diverse portfolio by adding a vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech increases the odds that we will have a safe, effective vaccine as soon as the end of this year,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.