Trump Administration Declined More Than 100 Million Doses of Vaccine
Doses Produced in Michigan Now to Be Sent to Foreign Countries
Pfizer Can’t Provide US With More of American-Made Product Until June
As the United Kingdom begins a campaign to inoculate its residents against the coronavirus and the US reports its deadliest week of the virus to date, the Trump Administration is struggling to scale up domestic supplies of the vaccine — after declining to purchase millions of doses that could have protected American lives.
The Trump Administration Turned Down Millions of Doses of Vaccine — Which Are Now Going to Other Countries
- The Trump Administration Declined An Offer By Pfizer To Lock In More Doses Of The Vaccine. “Before Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine was proved highly successful in clinical trials last month, the company offered the Trump administration the chance to lock in supplies beyond the 100 million doses the pharmaceutical maker agreed to sell the government as part of a $1.95 billion deal months ago. But the administration, according to people familiar with the talks, never made the deal, a choice that now raises questions about whether the United States allowed other countries to take its place in line.” [New York Times, 12/7/20]
- The Trump Administration Turned Down An Opportunity To Secure Between 100 Million And 500 Million Additional Doses Of The Pfizer Vaccine. “The government was in July given the option to request 100 million to 500 million additional doses. But despite repeated warnings from Pfizer officials that demand could vastly outstrip supply and amid urges to pre-order more doses, the Trump administration turned down the offer, according to several people familiar with the discussions.” [New York Times, 12/7/20]
- The Trump Administration Has Only Secured Enough Doses Of The Pfizer Vaccine For 50 Million Americans. “The vaccine being produced by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, is a two-dose treatment, meaning that 100 million doses is enough to vaccinate only 50 million Americans. The vaccine is expected to receive authorization for emergency use in the U.S. as soon as this weekend, with another vaccine, developed by Moderna, also likely to be approved for emergency use soon.” [New York Times, 12/7/20]
- Instead, 200 Million Doses Are Going Overseas To The European Union. “On Nov. 11 — two days after Pfizer first announced early results indicating that its vaccine was more than 90 percent effective — the European Union announced that it had finalized a supply deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for 200 million doses, a deal they began negotiating in months earlier. Shipments could begin by the end of the year, and the contract includes an option for 100 million more doses.” [New York Times, 12/7/20]
- Doses Of Pfizer’s Vaccine That Are Being Produced In Michigan Will Be Exported Overseas. “It goes further than the NYT story. Gottlieb says that some of Pfizer’s supply *manufactured in Michigan* will be exported to satisfy foreign contracts by April. Months before most Americans are expected to get a vaccine.” [Twitter, @emilyakopp, 12/8/20]
- Because Of Its Commitments To Other Counties, Pfizer Can’t Supply The US With More Doses Until June Or July. “Pfizer has told the Trump administration it cannot provide substantial additional doses of its coronavirus vaccine until late June or July because other countries have rushed to buy up most of its supply, according to multiple individuals familiar with the situation. That means the U.S. government may not be able to ramp up as rapidly as it had expected from the 100 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine that it purchased earlier this year, raising questions about whether it can keep to its aggressive schedule to vaccinate most Americans by late spring or early summer.” [Washington Post, 12/8/20]
The Trump Administration Is Facing Backlash for Its Failure to Protect Americans and Secure More Doses of the Vaccine
- Anonymous Trump Administration Official: “They Shouldn’t Have Closed The Door” On Buying More Doses Of The Vaccine. “It was a mistake for the Trump administration not to leave the door open to purchase more Pfizer vaccine doses earlier this summer, an administration official told CNN on Monday… ‘They shouldn’t have closed the door,’ the official said, adding that ‘they could have left the door open’ to purchasing more doses. If the other vaccines being manufactured by Pfizer’s rivals are not as effective, it could have a detrimental effect on inoculating the American public, the official said. ‘It’s going to look bad,’ the official added.” [CNN, 12/8/20]
- Former CDC Detective And Epidemiologist Dr. Seema Yasmin: “I Think They Did Drop The Ball Here Because There Were Early Signs About Which Of These Vaccines Looked Most Likely To Be Ready.” “However, I think they did drop the ball here because there were early signs about which of these vaccines looked most likely to be ready, looked most likely to be efficacious in the trials. And now what we’re seeing is this kind of trying to play catch up to clean up the mess with an executive order being discussed that I don’t think will actually do anything. Pfizer is saying, ‘Look, we gave you that option in the summer, you passed it up. Now we sold 200 million doses of vaccine to the European Union.’ So I think waving around an executive order is a bit like a kid having a tantrum in a candy store when the candy store is empty. There’s none left so now we’re going to have to bank on other vaccines becoming available.” [Twitter, @Covid19WarRoom, 12/8/20]
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): “Trump’s Incompetence Will Cost American Lives.” “When given the opportunity to purchase additional vaccine doses, Trump passed. And now, fewer Americans will be vaccinated before June. Make no mistake, Trump’s incompetence will cost American lives. It already has. So much for America first.” [Twitter, @RepAdamSchiff, 12/7/20]
- Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD): “Trump’s Failure To Secure Needed Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccines Is Further Proof Of His Mismanagement Of This Crisis, Which Continues To Cost Lives.” “Trump’s failure to secure needed doses of COVID-19 vaccines is further proof of his mismanagement of this crisis, which continues to cost lives. Free and equitable vaccine distribution is essential and should be addressed in COVID-19 relief legislation.” [Twitter, @LeaderHoyer, 12/8/20]
- MSNBC Commentator And National Security Expert Ben Rhodes: “The Negligence And Nihilism Of Donald Trump… Will End Up Costing Us Hundreds Of Thousands Of American Lives.” “Imagine if we had a government that invested in the vaccine instead of flacking hydroxychloroquine? The incompetence, negligence and nihilism of Donald Trump and his enablers will end up costing us hundreds of thousands of American lives.” [Twitter, @brhodes, 12/7/20]
- Historian And Journalist Garrett Graff: “As Many As 100 Million Americans Will Wait Months Longer For A Life-Saving Treatment. Layers And Layers Of Failure.” “It’s hard to imagine more deflating news than that the Trump administration botched ordering additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine & thus as many as 100 million Americans will wait months longer for a life-saving treatment. Layers and layers of failure.” [Twitter, @vermontgmg, 12/8/20]