COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers increase production and produce much more doses a week than earlier this year, a progress that is accelerating mass vaccination campaigns in the US
After a slow start, Pfizer Inc. PFE,
its partner BioNTech SE BNTX,
and Modern Inc. MRNA,
they have increased production by gaining experience, expanding production lines and taking other steps such as making certain raw materials on their own.
Pfizer figured out how to stretch the scarce supplies of special filters needed for the vaccine production process by recycling them. Modern shortened the time needed to inspect and package the vials of its newly manufactured vaccine.
The companies, along with Johnson & Johnson JNJ,
which recently launched a vaccine against Covid-19, are also partnering with other companies to further increase production.
In addition, the U.S. government has helped vaccine manufacturers access supplies under the Defense Production Act, according to suppliers and government officials. The Biden administration this month said it used the act to provide $ 105 million in funding to help Merck & Co. MRK,
dose the J&J COVID-19 vaccine and streamline the materials used in its production.
U.S. monthly production for the three authorized vaccines is projected to reach 132 million doses by March, nearly three times the February 48 million, according to estimates by Evercore ISI analysts.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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