Japan mulls asking Pfizer to speed up COVID-19 vaccine delivery

According to a government source on Thursday, Japan’s government is considering asking Pfizer to speed up its delivery of COVID-19 vaccine beyond the fall amid concern about a supply shortage, reported Kyodo News+.

The source said Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to make the request in an upcoming meeting with the company’s CEO, Albert Bourla.

Under existing agreements with the drugmaker, Japan will receive 100 million doses by June, 70 million between July and September, and another 20 million in or after October.

The government wants the last batch of 20 million doses earlier in order to ease concern among local authorities that have been forced to pause reservations to administer shots to residents, according to the source.

In April, Suga successfully asked Bourla to increase the amount of shots which led to an agreement for an additional 50 million doses.