In recent weeks, there have been several good vaccine news.
In mid-April, it became known that Norway receive two million additional vaccine doses from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer in June, July and August.
– We are in a new divide now, says vaccine dealer Richard Bergström to TV 2.
– DEALER: Vaccine coordinator Richard Bergström. Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / TT / NTB
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Bergström negotiates the vaccine doses for the EU, and is the man who secures vaccines to Norway via Sweden.
This week, some EU countries may experience a record week in the number of deliveries of doses, because there are very many doses from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, according to Bergström.
Surprises
Norway has put the use of AstraZeneca on hold. So far last week was a record week in the number of deliveries from Pfizer to Norway, with 207,090 doses. This week, 187,200 doses are delivered, according to figures from the National Institute of Public Health.
When it comes to the Moderna vaccine, Norway will receive 36,000 doses this week. Last week, 24,000 doses were delivered, according to FHI.
Next week, a decision will be made on whether the vaccines for AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson will be used in Norway.
Bergström says that there may be more surprises from Pfizer, as we received in mid-April.
– Maybe the EU will get additional doses from Pfizer. They have surprised us before. Pfizer’s factories in Germany are doing very well, so maybe more doses will come from them. Pfizer has a large capacity, says Bergström.
The reason why the EU and Norway receive more doses in June, July and August is because doses that should actually have been delivered towards the end of the year are delivered much earlier because production capacity has increased.
Can not promise increased deliveries
– INCREASED CAPACITY: Communications Manager Joachim Henriksen in Pfizer Norway says the factories have been looking for capacity for the past six months. Photo: Pfizer
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Pfizer confirms that they have significantly increased production capacity over the past six months.
– Earlier this year, we could tell that deliveries in the second quarter would increase by 50 million doses. We have met and exceeded the agreed deliveries to the EU so far, but we can now not promise any further increase in deliveries, says communications manager Joachim Henriksen in Pfizer Norway to TV 2.
– On the other hand, I can confirm that production is going very well and that we now aim to be able to produce and deliver more than 2.5 billion vaccine doses globally during 2021, Henriksen continues.
In addition to the vaccines delivered this year, the EU is negotiating with Pfizer / BioNTech on a major contract for vaccine deliveries in 2022 and 2023 in order to offer citizens a refill dose and / or an updated version that works against various virus variants.
The contract applies to 1.8 billion doses, according to Bergström.
Several vaccines on the stairs
Four vaccines have now been approved in the EU, and in June a third mRNA vaccine may be approved.
Curevac has signed a contract with the EU to deliver vaccines during the second quarter, but according to Bergström, it will not be until July that large volumes will arrive.
In June, the Russian Sputnik V vaccine may also be approved. Next week, EMA will present a report on the examinations from the clinical studies, according to vaccine dealer Bergström. The inspection of the factories will also take place next week.
Brazil stop
Bergström says it is natural that the EMA also looks at the reasons why Brazil’s Norwegian Medicines Agency does not approve the vaccine.
– Brazil’s drug supervision is known to have a high standard. There has been information about the vaccine that is disturbing. But we will have to wait and see what EMA concludes with, says Bergström.
According to the Brazilian Medicines Agency, they have found live cold viruses in several shipments of the Sputnik V vaccines.
On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) launched an assessment of Sinovac’s Chinese vaccine. The company has not yet published studies in connection with the vaccine, which Sputnik V has.
– Since they have not published any studies, the inspection of the clinical studies and the factory becomes extra important, says Bergström.
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