Administration, a decision expected as early as
next week.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla called the U.K. decision
“a historic moment.”
“We are focusing on moving with the same level
of urgency to safely supply a high-quality vaccine
around the world,” Bourla said in a statement.
While the U.K. has ordered 40 million doses of
the Pfizer vaccine, enough for 20 million people,
it’s not clear how many will arrive by year’s
end. Hancock said the U.K. expects to receive
“millions of doses” by the end of this year, adding
that the actual number will depend on how fast
Pfizer can produce the vaccine.
One concern about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
is that it must be stored and shipped at ultra-
cold temperatures of around minus 70 degrees
Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit), adding to
the challenge of distributing the vaccine around
the world.
Pfizer says it has developed shipping containers
that use dry ice to keep the vaccine cool. GPS-
enabled sensors will allow the company to track
each shipment and ensure they stay cold, the
company says.
“Pfizer has vast experience and expertise in
cold-chain shipping and has an established
infrastructure to supply the vaccine worldwide,
including distribution hubs that can store
vaccine doses for up to six months,” the
company said in a statement.
The company also says it has agreed to work
with other vaccine makers to ensure there
is sufficient supply and a range of vaccines,
“including those suitable for global access.”