Pfizer's vaccine: how many doses has Trump authorized to purchase?

As part of "Operation Warp Speed" the Trump administration bought 100 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine the top contender to be authorized first for emergency use but passed on the opportunity to secure more. The initial contract gave the option to buy up to five times more doses after the first order. However the administration took a pass on securing the additional doses last summer and Pfizer may have difficulty supplying more in the coming months as it has to meet other contracted obligations. 

President Trump is holding a White House summit on Tuesday to take credit for and promote the government’s Operation Warp Speed development program. According to the New York Times Trump will remedy this oversite by proclaiming his intention to apply his “America First” philosophy and issue an executive order to secure US supplies of the vaccine for Americans. This may not be feasible to implement. 

Vaccines will be limited for now 

Some time this week the Food and Drug Administration is expected to grant emergency use approval for Pfizer’s vaccine. The first doses of the 100 million, enough for 50 million Americans, the US ordered could be shipped within hours of the approval. The administration is negotiating with Pfizer to provide more doses of its vaccine but the company cannot guarantee the delivery of more until perhaps next June according to The New York Times. 

Pfizer signed agreements with other governments after the federal government signed its initial contract in July. The contract allows for the US to purchase another 500 million doses at the fixed price of $19.50 per dose. However in the interim Pfizer has committed to delivering its vaccine to other nations such as the European Union who secured 200 million doses in a contract last month. 

The Pfizer vaccine is one of two in line to be authorized for emergency FDA approval this month, the other is from drug maker Moderna. The Trump administration has said that between all the vaccines being developed that any American who wants the vaccine by the end of the second quarter of 2021 will be able to get it. However supplies will be scarce in the coming months just as the coronavirus is once again surging and the effects of people not heeding health experts warnings on Thanksgiving travel are due to appear. 

White House summit to promote Operation Warp Speed 

On Tuesday the White House will be hosting the “Operation Warp Speed” summit to calm public skepticism about the vaccine and solidify a key feature of his legacy. At the summit Trump and his administration are expected to highlight the plans for distributing and administering the vaccine. Present will be top officials from the administration, states and business executives. 

However the transition team for President-elect Joe Biden has not been invited. Nor will officials from the two pharmaceutical companies in contention to receive emergency use authorization. Although the companies were invited they are concerned that the event could contribute to the politicization of the vaccine development process. Thus potentially hindering public confidence in the vaccines. 

The event is expected to start with Trump hailing the achievements of his administration in the development of the vaccine. Previously he has claimed credit for the success of the Pfizer vaccine however the company unlike others did not take upfront money from the development program for their research.  

He is also expected to sign an executive order which was first reported by Fox News that will prioritize Americans for the covid-19 vaccine purchased by the US. The order would also restrict the US government from donating doses to other nations until the US demand can be met. It is yet to be seen if this is related to the supplies of the Pfizer vaccine or an attempt to keep vaccine produced in the US solely for use in the US. Keeping supplies bound for other nations could be diplomatically fraught.