COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers ramp up production and produce far more doses per week than earlier this year, progress accelerating mass vaccination campaigns in the US
After a slow start, Pfizer Inc. PFE,
its partner BioNTech SE BNTX,
and Moderna Inc. MRNA,
have increased output by gaining experience, scaling up production lines and taking other steps, such as making certain raw materials in-house.
Pfizer discovered how the scarce supplies of special filters needed for the vaccine manufacturing process can be stretched by recycling them. Moderna reduced the time it took to inspect and package newly manufactured vials of its vaccine.
The companies – along with Johnson & Johnson JNJ,
which recently launched a Covid-19 vaccine – are also partnering with other companies to further increase production.
In addition, the U.S. government has helped vaccine makers access supplies under the Defense Production Act, suppliers and government officials say. Biden’s government said this month it was using the law to provide $ 105 million in funding to help Merck & Co. To help MRK,
make doses of J & J’s COVID-19 vaccine and speed up the materials used in its production.
According to analyst estimates from Evercore ISI, monthly US production for the three approved vaccines is expected to reach 132 million doses in March, nearly triple the 48 million in February.
An expanded version of this report is published on WSJ.com.
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