TOKYO – The Japanese government on Friday has signed an agreement with U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech SE to purchase an additional 50 million doses of their novel coronavirus vaccine, bringing the total number of shots to 194 million.
The additional doses will be delivered between July and September, the two companies said in a statement.
Japan’s initial deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for 144 million doses was signed in January.
Last month, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga requested for the additional doses during a phone talk with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on the final day of his three-day visit to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden.
According to health ministry data, a total of 5,593,436 doses of the vaccine had been administered in the country as of May 13. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photo courtesy of Pfizer Japan Inc.)
