Moderna delays vaccine delivery to Canada and UK due to supply struggle in Europe
The global COVID-19 vaccine supply is about to take another hit, but this time from Moderna. The mRNA drugmaker warned Friday that supply problems are forcing it to cut back deliveries to “a number of countries,” including the U.K. and Canada.
Moderna, which has partnered with Switzerland’s Lonza to manufacture its vaccine known as mRNA-1273, pinned the reduction on deficits in its European supply chain, specifically to “human and material resources” needed to meet its production goals.
The company had earlier said in a statement: “The trajectory of vaccine manufacturing ramp-up is not linear, and despite best efforts, there is a shortfall in previously estimated doses from the European supply chain.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that while the delay in Moderna’s shipments is disappointing, Canada has now signed an agreement with Pfizer for eight million more vaccine doses on top of what has already been promised.
The Moderna vaccine has become the third Covid jab to be approved for use in the UK, but it has been ordered in relatively small numbers – 17m doses – when compared with Oxford/AstraZeneca (100m) and Pfizer (40m). The UK has also placed orders for five other vaccines types.
