Pfizer and BioNTech to ship additional 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to EU

The German company BioNTech and the American Pfizer on Wednesday announced an agreement with the European Commission to supply an additional 200 million doses of their COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine to the 27 EU countries.

"This new agreement is in addition to the 300 million doses already guaranteed for delivery to the EU throughout 2021 under the first supply agreement signed last year," reads a press release posted on BioNTech's website.

According to the document, 75 of the additional 200 million doses will be delivered in the second quarter of 2021.

At the same time, it is noted that this agreement gives the European Commission "the opportunity to request another 100 million doses" of the vaccine.

"The total number of doses that will be distributed in the EU member states by the end of 2021 is now 500 million and may be increased to 600 million in accordance with the opportunity provided by the new agreement," – the document emphasizes.

According to the head of BioNTech, Ugur Shahin, the companies will begin production of the vaccine at a facility in Marburg this month.

“We continue to assess, together with governments, authorities, and partners at all levels, how we can meet even greater demand for our vaccine supply in the future,” – Shahin said.

Pfizer CEO Albert Burla said the new agreement with the European Commission is expected to "supply enough doses to vaccinate at least 250 million Europeans by the end of this year".

The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, called COMIRNATY, is manufactured at the companies' manufacturing facilities in Europe.

The vaccine efficacy from Pfizer and BioNTech in the final phase of clinical trials was 95%. It consists of two doses. They are administered at intervals of 21 days. This vaccine is already actively used in North America, EU countries and a number of other countries.