Moderna pledges big delivery in June, but still seven million doses short of commitment

OTTAWA – Vaccine maker Moderna has pledged to deliver another two million doses of its shot next month, but to meet its original commitment the company is still short more than six million doses that would have to arrive before the end of June.

The company originally pledged to deliver 12.3 million doses in the second quarter of this year, but has so far delivered just 3.7 million doses. It announced a further 500,000 doses will come next week with another shipment of 1.5 million coming in the middle of the month, but that will still leave the company short 6.6. million doses from its original commitment.

When it reduced a shipment in April, Moderna said it could miss that 12.3 million goal by as many as two million doses. Even with that lower target however, the company would still have to deliver 4.6 million doses in just the last few weeks of June.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand welcomed the confirmation of the two million doses, but said in a statement they are still pushing the company to meet its original commitments.

“Moderna has indicated it will continue to ramp up its deliveries in the second part of June with millions of additional doses to be delivered,” she said.

She said regardless of Moderna’s deliveries, the government will still be able to meet the goal of vaccinating everyone with a first dose by the end of next month.

“Canada remains very much on track to receive vaccines for eligible Canadians to have their first dose by the end of June, with the administration of second doses also underway,” she said.

Moderna has been the less reliable of Canada’s main vaccine suppliers during the pandemic, with the company struggling to deliver shipments on time and in full throughout the rollout.

The company has cut shipments and delivered later than expected several times. By contrast, since February, Pfizer has delivered full shipments of its vaccines on time. It delivered two million doses per week in May and that is set to rise to 2.4 million doses in June.

During the government’s weekly vaccine briefing on Thursday afternoon Joëlle Paquette, with Public Services and Procurement Canada, said the government remains confident that Moderna will meet the goals it is contracted to reach.

“Moderna is committed to providing doses to Canada, as soon as possible. And we continue to work with them to firm up their delivery schedule,” she said. “We are confident that they will meet delivery schedules with Canada.”

Conservative MPS have called for company executives to testify before the House of Commons Health committee, but a date for that appearance has not yet been set.