COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers are increasing production and sweeping far more doses per week than earlier in the year, which is progressing the mass vaccination campaigns in the US.
After a slow start, Pfizer Inc. PFE,
its partner BioNTech SE BNTX,
and Modern Inc. MRNA,
increase production by gaining experience, scaling up production lines and taking other steps such as making certain raw materials on their own.
Pfizer has figured out how to stretch scarce supplies of special filters needed for the vaccine production process by recycling them. Modern has shortened the time it took to inspect and package newly manufactured vials of the vaccine.
The companies – with Johnson & Johnson JNJ,
which recently launched a Covid-19 vaccine – is also working with other companies to further increase production.
In addition, the U.S. government has helped vaccine makers gain access to supplies under the Defense Production Act, say suppliers and government officials. The administration of Biden said this month that it is using the amount to fund $ 105 million to Merck & Co. To help MRK,
makes doses of J & J’s COVID-19 vaccine and speeds up the materials used in production.
US monthly production for the three authorized vaccines is expected to reach 132 million doses in March, nearly tripling the 48 million in February, according to estimates by Evercore ISI analysts.
An extensive version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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