U.S. angling to secure more of Pfizer’s vaccine
Trump under fire for passing on earlier opportunity
U.S. officials say they ’re negotiating for additional purchases of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine after passing up a chance to lock in a contract this summer.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and special adviser Dr. Moncef Slaoui also told reporters Wednesday that Pfizer had been unable to commit to a firm delivery date. Azar called that “the core issue.”
There was no immediate comment from the company, whose CEO, Albert Bourla, told CNN this week it is “working very collaboratively ” with the government to deliver additional vaccine through the federal Operation Warp Speed. That’s a White House-backed, taxpayer-funded effort to develop coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
The Trump administration has come under criticism from congressional Democrats after news leaked out last week about the foregone vaccine opportunity.
“We are concerned the failure to secure an adequate supply of vaccines will needlessly prolong the COVID -19 pandemic in this country, causing further loss of life and economic devastation,” a group of senators led by Patty Murray of Washington and Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote HHS. “We
fear this is yet another instance in which the Trump administration’s failure to develop a comprehensive national vaccines plan in a timely manner could jeopardize efforts to get people vaccinated and ultimately end this pandemic.”
Azar sought to rebut that concern Wednesday, saying that pending contracts with a number of manufacturers will ensure enough vaccine for all Americans by around the middle of next year.
A second vaccine from Moderna appears headed for Food and Drug Administration approval within days, and more vaccine candidates are advancing through clinical trials.
But the one from Pfizer and German pharmaceutical Biontech was first into the arms of Americans, raising hopes of taming a pandemic that has killed more than 300,000 people in the U.S. and hobbled much of the
national economy. Health care workers and nursing home residents top the list.
Some polls show skepticism about getting vaccinated may be easing.
After early failures with testing, Trump administration officials are hoping to write a very different ending with vaccines. Operation Warp Speed has financed the development, manufacture and distribution of millions of doses, with the goal of providing a free vaccine to any American who wants one.
Pfizer was not as closely involved with Operation Warp Speed as other manufacturers, preferring to retain control over its own development and manufacturing.
At issue is the purchase of another 100 million doses for delivery as early as the middle of next year.
“We are engaged in active negotiations,” Azar said.