BioNTech/Pfizer could produce 2 billion vaccine doses this year

Mainz, Germany (dpa) – The German firm BioNTech and US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer could produce up to 2 billion doses of their coronavirus vaccine this year, according to documents released on Monday.

The new goal is an increase on the previously planned 1.3 billion vaccine doses the partners had aimed to make.

Conditions for the higher production included improvements and enlargements at existing locations, as well as the availability of suppliers and production partners, according to documents BioNTech submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The planned increase is also due to a recently approved dilution of the vaccine, as each vial can now be used for a higher number of shots.

In the European Union, every vial can be divided into six vaccinations instead of only five, following a decision by the European Medicines Agency on Friday.

According to the SEC document, BioNTech and Pfizer have already arranged for the delivery of 1 billion doses this year.

The vaccine is to be produced at factories in Mainz and Marburg in Germany, but also in Belgium and several US locations.

BioNtech on Sunday said that 32.9 million vaccine doses have been delivered so far.

The company also announced that it was working on improvements of its Covid-19 vaccine, namely regarding the requirement to store it at minus 70 degrees Celsius, complicating delivery and storage.

Researchers were also working on eliminating polyethylene glycol (PEG) from the preparation, which can cause allergic reactions.

There was also research into whether the vaccine could be used for pregnant women and children.