Germany secures 136.3 million vaccine doses

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Germany will receive more coronavirus vaccine from the EU than previously planned. In total, 55.8 million doses of vaccine from Biontech and 50.5 million doses from Moderna have now been secured, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said yesterday. In addition, a “secure option” for a further 30 million doses via a national purchase has now been agreed with the Mainz-based company Biontech.

Germany has therefore secured a total of 136.3 million doses from both companies, all of which should be delivered in 2021. The German government hopes to receive EU approval for the Biontech drug, which is produced in partnership with U.S. company Pfizer, before Christmas. Moderna wants EU approval for its vaccine in mid-January. The German share is increasing because the EU had signed additional contracts with the companies.

Sufficient for herd immunity
Even the 136.3 million doses would be a sufficient amount to achieve herd immunity in Germany, where at least 60 percent of the population would need to be vaccinated. Above this percentage, it is assumed that a virus cannot spread further. For vaccination protection, for example with the Biontech preparation, two doses per person would have to be injected.

However, Germany secured a total of more than 300 million vaccine doses, the spokesman added. That’s because in addition to the Biontech and Moderna products, 42 million doses come through EU contracts with German company CureVac, whose vaccine could be licensed in the first half of the year. Germany can also obtain 20 million doses through a national program because the development of CureVac’s vaccines, like Biontech’s, was supported by taxpayer money.

Germany will receive an EU share of 56.2 million doses from AstraZeneca, and another 37.25 million doses from Johnson & Johnson. The latter three vaccines are all in Phase III trials, the final step before applying for approval. Bild am Sonntag” also reported on the increased deliveries.