Trump Administration's Vaccine Procurement Strategy Raises Concerns Over US and Global Access

Strategic Insights -

The Trump administration's decision not to purchase additional doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine last summer, when the option was available, has raised concerns that it may delay the delivery of a second batch of doses until the company fulfills its orders to other countries. This revelation comes as the administration aims to take credit for the speedy development of forthcoming coronavirus vaccines at a White House summit on Tuesday, amidst criticism over the procurement strategy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration opted not to purchase an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine in the summer, despite having the option to do so, citing a decision to prioritize domestic demand.
  • The move may delay the delivery of a second batch of doses, as Pfizer has made commitments to other countries and it is unclear if the company can meet the latest request in time.
  • The administration has committed to buying an initial 100 million doses, with an option to purchase up to 500 million more, but the decision to lock in additional purchases last summer was not taken.
  • The UK has already approved the Pfizer vaccine and will begin inoculating people on Tuesday.
  • Senior administration officials insist that plans are in place to distribute and administer the vaccine, but officials from President-elect Joe Biden's transition team were not invited to the White House summit.
  • The "Operation Warp Speed" summit will feature Mr. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and a host of government experts, state leaders, and business executives, aiming to explain that the vaccine is safe and lay out the administration's plans to bring it to the American people.

Statistics:

  • Over 283,000 Americans have been killed by the virus, with an average of nearly 200,000 new cases reported each day in the past week.
  • The Food and Drug Administration is to meet on Thursday to conduct a final review of the Pfizer drug, and in later this month to consider a vaccine developed by Moderna, which both have been determined to be 95% effective against the virus that causes Covid-19.
  • Plans call for distributing and then administering about 40 million doses of the two companies' vaccines by the end of the year, with the first doses shipping within hours of FDA clearance.
  • The administration has struck partnerships with manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare providers, with about 50,000 vaccination sites enrolled in the government's distribution system.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press (AP), accessed on [date]
  • The New York Times, accessed on [date]
  • NBC, accessed on [date]
  • Bloomberg, accessed on [date]