U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna said in a press release Tuesday (Feb. 16) that it will supply a second batch of 100 million doses of the new coronavirus vaccine to the United States by the end of May instead of the original June delivery date.
The delivery date for the third batch has also been moved up by two months, from the original late September to late July.
Modena said the change demonstrates the company’s commitment to increasing production to meet supply targets.
To date, the company has supplied more than 45 million doses of vaccine to the United States, the release said. More than 33 million doses of the new coronavirus vaccine have been filled into vials and are in various stages of final production and testing, Modena said.
Overall, more than 70 million doses of vaccine have been distributed in the United States. Of those distributed, more than 52 million doses have been administered, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control).
Despite short-term delays in the final stages of production and distribution of the vials, the target date for delivery should not be affected, Modena said.
To meet the new supply target, Modena said it plans to distribute vaccines already vialed as soon as they are produced, rather than storing them, as the company doubles the monthly dose of vaccine it delivers to the United States.
On average, Modena expects to ship up to 35 million doses of vaccine each month in February and March, and up to 50 million doses each month from April through the end of July.
Under the contract, the U.S. government will purchase a total of 300 million doses of Modena’s new coronavirus vaccine. This vaccine requires two doses per person.
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