Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said Thursday he would like “more visibility” into the manufacture of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, adding that the US drug maker has kept the federal government in ” the whole distance “throughout the process.
Unlike other drug manufacturers, Pfizer did not accept federal funding to help develop or manufacture its vaccine. Pfizer has an agreement with the U.S. to supply 100 million doses of its vaccine as part of Operation Warp Speed, enough to inoculate 50 million Americans, as the vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart. Pfizer is also negotiating with the United States for an additional 100 million doses.
“They’re part of Operation Warp Speed, but … it’s a different relationship” from government operations with Moderna and other federally funded pharmaceutical companies, Azar told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” during an interview Thursday . “We contract, we donate [Pfizer] a guaranteed purchase, which allows them to make capital investments, has a predictable buyer, but we don’t have full visibility into their manufacture because they’ve kept a little more freedom. “
But Azar said he would like the federal government’s relationship with Pfizer to change.
“We are working with Pfizer. We are very optimistic that we will secure additional quantities in the second quarter, but they will need our help for their manufacture,” he said. Azar also noted that Pfizer originally said it would produce 100 million doses by the end of the year, but “had to halve it to 50 million.”
Pfizer did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
The Pfizer vaccine was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use on Friday. The first doses of the Pfizer vaccine began shipping across the United States over the weekend and Americans began receiving shots Monday.
Initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine are limited as manufacturing increases, and officials predict it will take months to vaccinate all of the United States who want to be vaccinated. The United States sent 2.9 million doses of vaccine this week, with an additional 2 million scheduled for next week, Army General Gustave Perna, who oversees the logistics of Operation Warp Speed, told reporters on Wednesday. The United States expects to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Pfizer’s target of launching 50 million doses of vaccines worldwide by the end of the year was only half of what it had originally planned. In a statement, Pfizer said there were several factors that affected the estimated number of doses, including the increase in the vaccine at an “unprecedented” rate.
When asked Thursday why Pfizer is not able to produce more doses, Azar said the U.S. would offer to help “get greater performance if they are willing to take our help.”
He said the problem was not a matter of costs, and added: “We are working with them.”
“They’re very productive discussions,” he said. “We will use all the power of the US government to help, maximize production as we have always been willing to do. I am very optimistic that we will get to a good place there.”