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Pfizer says it has "millions more doses" of its vaccine waiting in a warehouse for the U.S. government to tell it where to send it, via @TheTerminal.
"As of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses," Pfizer said.
"As of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses," Pfizer said.
I've asked the White House for a response, needless to say.
Two days ago, @PressSec said there will be another 4 million Pfizer vaccine doses shipped on Friday. (It's unclear whether that's the same batch that Pfizer is referring to.)
Two days ago, @PressSec said there will be another 4 million Pfizer vaccine doses shipped on Friday. (It's unclear whether that's the same batch that Pfizer is referring to.)
OK, pull up a chair everyone.
As it turns out, Pfizer's being a bit cute with this statement.
As it turns out, Pfizer's being a bit cute with this statement.
Here's how it works.
The U.S. (which has placed its eggs in the baskets of several vaccine makers, remember) gets weekly allocations of vaccines from Pfizer, and then has U.S. states say where Pfizer should send it to -- literally, which hospital or long-term care home, etc.
The U.S. (which has placed its eggs in the baskets of several vaccine makers, remember) gets weekly allocations of vaccines from Pfizer, and then has U.S. states say where Pfizer should send it to -- literally, which hospital or long-term care home, etc.
The first allocation, last week, was 6.4 million doses. Of that, the administration basically plays middleman/matchmaker.
2.9 million doses were sent out, and another 2.9 million were held to be used as the 2nd dose for everyone who got a shot this week. (Pfizer's is two shots.)
2.9 million doses were sent out, and another 2.9 million were held to be used as the 2nd dose for everyone who got a shot this week. (Pfizer's is two shots.)
The remaining 500,000 were set aside as a reserve, per an official.
This week, another 4m doses were allocated. States are in the process now of sorting out where to send them.
2m will be delivered over the next week, with 2m saved to, again, be used as the second dose.
This week, another 4m doses were allocated. States are in the process now of sorting out where to send them.
2m will be delivered over the next week, with 2m saved to, again, be used as the second dose.
There'll be a new allocation next week, per the official. Again, half will be sent out, with half following later as a second dose.
So that means that, as of now, Pfizer is indeed holding about 7.4 million U.S. doses.
* 2.9m are being held to give everyone who got a shot this week their 2nd and final shot in 3 weeks
* 4m are being sorted now, half of which will be sent over the next week
* The 500k reserve
* 2.9m are being held to give everyone who got a shot this week their 2nd and final shot in 3 weeks
* 4m are being sorted now, half of which will be sent over the next week
* The 500k reserve
This is how it'll work, I gather. Every Tuesday or so, the U.S. will know how many doses it *for sure* has from Pfizer. It will then relay that to states, who will put in what are basically orders by Friday. Shipping and delivery take place over the following week. (And repeat.)
Pfizer's statement is a broadside that implies doses have been essentially abandoned, but the details tell a different story.
The administration thinks Pfizer is behind on its shipments, per an official. And they're in talks over a second order, for another 100 million doses.
The administration thinks Pfizer is behind on its shipments, per an official. And they're in talks over a second order, for another 100 million doses.
There's been brewing tension for a while between Pfizer, which didn't jump as heavily into Operation Warp Speed as rival companies, and the administration. This statement today may add to that.
Pfizer's negotiating in public by doing this, the official told me today.
Pfizer's negotiating in public by doing this, the official told me today.
And Pfizer's CEO went on CNBC this week and said flatly that they're having "critical supply limitations."
He even asked the Trump administration for help -- to use the Defense Production Act, specifically. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/14/cnbc-transcript-pfizer-chairman-and-ceo-albert-bourla-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html
He even asked the Trump administration for help -- to use the Defense Production Act, specifically. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/14/cnbc-transcript-pfizer-chairman-and-ceo-albert-bourla-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html
Anyhow, so where does this leave us?
Pfizer has so far allocated 10.4 million doses to the U.S. -- after, per the official, pledging 20 million in November and another 20 million in December. The U.S. has ordered 100 million doses, with talks ongoing for another 100 million.
Pfizer has so far allocated 10.4 million doses to the U.S. -- after, per the official, pledging 20 million in November and another 20 million in December. The U.S. has ordered 100 million doses, with talks ongoing for another 100 million.
In other words, the U.S. thinks Pfizer is running behind, while Pfizer today vaguely accused the U.S. of falling behind itself, on allocation.
The company's statement today comes under the overhang of those talks, and as Pfizer asks the U.S. to use the DPA to basically force its suppliers to prioritize Pfizer because it's facing supply chain crunches.
Clear as mud, right?
Clear as mud, right?
Anyhow, @rileyraygriffin and I sort through it here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-17/pfizer-says-no-vaccine-shipments-have-been-delayed
The White House has still not commented on the whole thing, fwiw.
