Pfizer, U.S. work together on vaccine supply

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Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, prays for medical workers who just received the COVID-19 vaccine at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago. Associated Press/Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast

Pfizer, U.S. work together on vaccine supply

Last month, the maker of the first U.S. coronavirus shot announced last month it was having trouble ramping up production because of supply shortages. So Pfizer asked the federal government for help. Under a new $2 billion agreement, the Trump administration would invoke the Defense Production Act to give the company better access to the specialized products it needs to make the vaccine.

How many doses will it provide? The deal calls for an additional 100 million COVID-19 shots from Pfizer for distribution from April to June. Moderna, another drugmaker, has also pledged another 100 million doses for this spring. Just over 1 million Americans had received the vaccine as of Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Dig deeper: Read Emily Belz’s report on Christians who volunteered for COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Paul Butler

Paul is executive producer for WORLD Radio, senior producer for the Effective Compassion and Legal Docket podcasts, and a member of WORLD’s Editorial Council. He is a World Journalism Institute graduate, a Moody Radio alum, a pastor, and a former college professor. He resides with his family in Arlington, Ill.

@PaulDButlerTWE