Pfizer and the Trump governance have reached a deal in which the pharmaceutical giant will provide up too 100 million doses of its investigational COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. government, pending successful clinical trials, and at a cost of approximately $1.95 billion. The agreement, announced in July 2020, aims to secure vaccine access for americans should the vaccine prove safe and effective, and represents a notable step in the U.S. effort to combat the pandemic.The deal, part of Operation Warp Speed-the government’s initiative to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines-guarantees a supply of Pfizer’s BNT162b2 vaccine candidate, developed in partnership with BioNTech. This commitment allows Pfizer to ramp up manufacturing at its own risk,possibly shortening the timeline for vaccine availability if trials are successful. The agreement includes an option for additional doses, potentially bringing the total to over 500 million.
Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. government will pay Pfizer $1.95 billion for the initial 100 million doses, at a price of $19.50 per dose. Pfizer will deliver the doses beginning in late 2020, contingent upon FDA authorization. the company will also manufacture the vaccine at its facilities in Massachusetts and Michigan.
“This is a critical step to securing America’s access to potential COVID-19 vaccines once they are available,” stated then-President Donald Trump during a White House briefing. “we are investing in multiple vaccine candidates to ensure that we have options and can protect the American people as quickly as possible.”
The deal followed months of negotiations between Pfizer and the administration, with discussions focusing on pricing, liability protection, and manufacturing capacity. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla emphasized the company’s commitment to developing a safe and effective vaccine, stating, “We are proud to be working with the U.S. government to accelerate the development and potential delivery of a vaccine to help protect the American people.”
