Search API

New York-based Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech S.E. announced today a new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine supply agreement with the U.S. government. Under this agreement, the U.S. government will receive 105 million vaccine doses (30 µg, ten µg, and three µg), planned for delivery by late summer and continue into the fourth quarter of 2022.

The U.S. government has agreed to pay the companies $3.2 billion upon receiving the first 105 million doses.

This purchase may include adult Omicron-adapted COVID-19 vaccines, subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization.

Under the new agreement, the U.S. government can purchase up to 195 million additional doses, bringing the total number of potential doses to 300 million.

“This agreement will provide additional doses for U.S. residents and help cope with the next COVID-19 wave. Pending regulatory authorization, it will also include an Omicron-adapted vaccine, which we believe is important to address the rapidly spreading Omicron variant,” commented Sean Marett, Chief Business and Chief Commercial Officer of BioNTech, in a press release issued on June 29, 2022.

“We appreciate the continued partnership of the U.S. government in our shared goal to help end this pandemic.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is based on BioNTech’s proprietary mRNA technology, developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer.

The FDA-approved COMIRNATY® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine FDA authorized for Emergency Use Authorization for individuals 12 years of age and older can be used interchangeably by a vaccination provider when prepared according to their respective instructions for use.

However, the formulations of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine authorized for use in individuals six months through 4 years of age, 5 through 11 years of age, and 12 years of age and older are different and should therefore not be used interchangeably, say the companies.

The companies confirmed today some people with weakened immune systems may have reduced immune responses to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or COMIRNATY.

And people should not receive this vaccine if the vaccine recipient had a severe allergic reaction to any of its ingredients or had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or COMIRNATY.

BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in the USA.

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently announced the risk of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection to U.K. residents traveling to the Middle East remains 'very low.'

As of June 28, 2022, the National Travel Health Network and Centre and the World Health Organization (WHO) do not advise any travel restrictions to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) concerning MERS-CoV.

MERS-CoV can be spread person-to-person if there is close contact with an infected person, so it is essential to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene, says the UKHSA.

Camels are a source of MERS-CoV infection, so avoiding contact with them is advised.

The WHO reported as of May 12, 2022, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally was 2,591, including 894 associated fatalities.

Most of the reported MERS-Cov cases have occurred in countries in the Arabian Peninsula.

Outside this region, there was one large outbreak in the Republic of Korea in May 2015, during which 186 laboratory-confirmed cases and 38 related fatalities were reported.

The UKHSA stated yesterday 'We urge pilgrims returning from Hajj and Umrah to look out for these MERS-CoV symptoms; fever, coughing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. If individuals experience these symptoms within 14 days of leaving the KSA, they should speak with a healthcare provider and mention their travel history.

Dr. Gavin Dabrera, lead for MERS-CoV at UKHSA, said in a media release, "We strongly advise travelers to avoid contact with camels and consumption of camel products in the KSA and to practice good hand hygiene."

As of June 29, 2022, the U.S. FDA had not approved a MERS-CoV prevention vaccine, but several are conducting clinical trials.

Additional Hajj and Umrah vaccine requirements are posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/Hajj.

Note: This information was manually curated for travelers.

The European Commission (EC) announced today that the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is responding to the expanding monkeypox virus outbreak with an initial delivery of 5,300 IMVANEX® vaccine doses in Spain.

As of June 28, 2022, HERA purchased 109,090 monkeypox vaccine doses.

The EC stated this is the first of a series of vaccine deliveries that will take place in the coming weeks to ensure that all Member States are ready to respond to the monkeypox outbreak, which has exceeded 4,400 cases globally since early May 2022.

As was the case with COVID-19 vaccines, IMVANEX vaccines will be allocated on a pro-rata basis, according to the population of each country. 

EC Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides commented in a press release, "As of today, the first deliveries of vaccines in response to the monkeypox outbreak are arriving in the most affected countries."

Portugal, Germany, and Belgium will be the next countries to receive vaccine doses.

"The European Health Union responds in real-time to new health threats and protects its citizens."

"This is the first time that we are, through our HERA, directly buying and donating vaccines to Member States."

It is also the first time the EU budget was used to purchase vaccines donated directly to Member States.

"With HERA up and running, the EU has significantly reinforced its capacity to respond and address new health threats decisively, added Kyriakides.

In its recent risk assessment, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advised affected countries to consider early post-exposure vaccination, using the 3rd generation vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic, to prevent the contagious monkeypox disease.

In the USA, the Jynneos vaccine distribution is managed by the U.S. CDC.

However, according to New York City and Washington DC reports, consumer demand is overwhelming Jynneos vaccine availability.

Eligible New Yorkers who may have been recently exposed to the monkeypox virus can get the two-dose vaccine at the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic.

Unfortunately, NYC Health's vaccine supply has been exhausted.

And in Washington, DC, Mayor Bowser and DC Health announced a limited amount of monkeypox vaccination appointments would become available to eligible District residents on June 27, 2022.

But, DC Health's website now says, 'All monkeypox vaccine appointments have been scheduled.'

'Residents should check DC Health's social platforms on Wednesday (6/29) to get an update on additional appointment availability.'

Furthermore, based on the rapid increase in monkeypox cases in the USA, 306 patients in twenty-six states as of today, vaccine demand will continue increasing.

To date, the U.S. government has received requests from 32 states and jurisdictions, deploying over 9,000 doses of vaccine.

The United States announced late on June 28, 2022, that it intends to allocate 296,000 vaccine doses over the coming weeks, 56,000 of which will be allocated immediately.

And in the coming months, a combined 1.6 million additional doses will become available.

Additional monkeypox outbreak news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

Note: This information was converted into English and manually curated for mobile readership.