US government purchases 200 million additional COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna 

The U.S. government has purchased 200 million additional doses of Moderna‘s COVID-19 vaccine.

With the 300 million doses already purchased from the biotechnology company, that brings America’s total order up to 500 million.

Under the terms of agreement, Moderna will deliver 110 million doses by the end of 2021 and 90 million in the first quarter of 2022.

What’s more, the Biden administration will also have the option to purchase any future coronavirus immunizations that Moderna is working on.

‘We appreciate the collaboration with the U.S government for these additional doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which could be used for primary vaccination, including of children, or possibly as a booster if that becomes necessary to continue to defeat the pandemic,’ said Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel in a statement.

‘We remain focused on being proactive as the virus evolves by leveraging the flexibility of our mRNA platform to stay ahead of emerging variants.’   

It comes as the rate of vaccinations in the U.S. has slowed significantly to an average of 1.1 million shots per day, down from an average of 3.3 million in early April – making it highly unlikely the U.S. will meet President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70 percent of all U.S. adults by July 4.

The U.S. government has purchased an 200 more million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total order to 500 million. Pictured: A healthcare worker holds a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site in New York City, January 29

It is not exactly clear what the future doses will be used for but there are a few theories.

One is that the shots sitting in the U.S. stockpile may have expiration dates that are approaching and the new doses will replace those.

Another is that, because scientists believe COVID-19 is going to become an endemic disease – meaning it is always circulating at low rates – all future generations will have to be vaccinated against it, and the doses are in preparation for when the vaccine is authorized in kids.

A third option could be that the doses are used as part of Biden’s plan to deliver at least 80 million shots for about 100 countries.

The new doses will not be used as boosters, which Moderna is currently testing in clinical trials with the National Institutes of Health.

The company has developed two different types of boosters,  one with a new formula called mRNA-1273.351, and another called mRNA-1273.211, which combines Moderna’s original vaccine and the booster shot in one dose.

Two-thirds of participants different doses of mRNA-1273.351 and the remaining third will get the combination booster. 

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.