Germany-based BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) and its partner Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) entered an agreement with Costa Rica for the manufacture and supply of up to 3 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.
Costa Rica expects 3 million vaccine doses from Pfizer and BioNTech
President Carlos Alvarado’s office announced that they expect the companies to deliver the vaccine throughout 2021. The office said that this is per the initially established agreement entered on October 1, 2020. The deal comes at the back of agreements with AstraZeneca and the Covax mechanism supported by the World Health Organisation. It will see the government give two doses of the vaccine to 1.5 million.
The total agreements the government has signed will cover around 3 million people, which is almost 60% of the country’s population. Costa Rica has registered around 142,505 COVID-19 cases.
BNT162b2 vaccine receives emergency Use authorization in the UK
Last week the companies received their first authorization in the world for the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK. The Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency granted the companies’ mRNA vaccine temporary Emergency Use Authorization in the UK. Pfizer and BioNTech recently concluded a Phase 3 study of the vaccine, which demonstrated that the vaccine is 95% effective in protecting from SARS-CoV-2. The Emergency Use Authorization becomes the first the companies have received, and they expect more regulatory decisions globally in the coming weeks. They are also ready to supply vaccine doses to different countries following possible regulatory approvals.
Pfizer CEO and Chairman Albert Bourla said the emergency use authorization is a huge milestone in the fight against COVID-19. He said the authorization is an achievement the companies have been working on, and they are delighted the MHRA managed to conduct a careful assessment and take action to help in the fight against COVID-19. Pfizer and BioNTech signed an agreement with the UK government in July to supply 30 million doses of their vaccine. In October, the agreement increased the doses to 40 million with delivery expected throughout 2020 and next year.
