Pfizer cuts vaccine delivery to Europe

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer confirmed Friday it will temporarily cut deliveries to Europe of its COVID-19 vaccine as it upgrades production capacity. Canada’s government said it was also affected.

The EU Commission chief said she immediately called Pfizer’s CEO. Line Fedders, a spokeswoman for Pfizer Denmark, said that to meet the 2 billion dose target, Pfizer is upscaling production, which “presupposes adaptation of facilities and processes at the factory, which requires new quality tests and approvals from the authorities.”

“As a consequence, fewer doses will be available for Europe at the end of January and the beginning of February,” she said.