Sahin BioNTech CEO "Vaccine Production Increased to 3 Billion Doses... Korea and Others Expected to Benefit"

Ugur Sahin, Co-founder and CEO of BioNTech.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] BioNTech, which jointly developed the COVID-19 vaccine with Pfizer in the United States, predicted that vaccine production would increase to 3 billion doses, benefiting countries including Korea.

Ugur Sahin, founder and CEO of BioNTech, stated in a virtual press conference with the German Foreign Press Association on the 28th (local time), "At the beginning of this year, the production target for the COVID-19 vaccine was 1.3 billion doses, but now it has been raised to 3 billion doses."

He added, "With expanded and more efficient production at facilities such as the Marburg plant, countries including Korea will benefit. Although I cannot specify exactly when and how much supply will increase, supply will grow in proportion to production."

The Korean government has signed a purchase contract with Pfizer for a total of 66 million doses, of which 2 million doses have been delivered domestically so far. An additional 1.75 million doses will be imported in May and 3.25 million doses in June, making a total of 7 million doses planned to arrive by the first half of the year.

In mid-September last year, BioNTech acquired a vaccine production facility in Marburg, western Germany, from the Swiss company Novartis. This facility can produce 750 million doses annually.

Regarding the third dose, or so-called 'booster shot,' to prepare for COVID-19 variants, CEO Sahin said that receiving the third dose between 9 to 12 months after the second dose is necessary to maintain a high infection prevention rate. After that, additional vaccinations will likely be required annually or every 18 months. He explained, "Six months after the second dose, the infection prevention rate drops to 91%, and after eight months, it decreases significantly. Therefore, efforts to enhance efficacy are needed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.