The CoV vaccine provider AstraZeneca has to accept another setback with the loss of manufacturing capacities in the USA. By order of the state, the contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions is no longer allowed to work for AstraZeneca in its plant in Baltimore and is only allowed to manufacture the coronavirus vaccine for competitor Johnson & Johnson (J&J), as a high-ranking insider from the health sector reported to the New York Times and Reuters said.
The reason for the decision is a severe manufacturing failure at Emergent BioSolutions. The company had previously produced both vaccines in the plant and mixed their components in the process. This made vaccine unusable for 15 million doses. According to J&J, the error was noticed in good time, so that the vaccine in question was not filled. According to the insider, J&J is now taking sole control of vaccine production at the plant. This is to rule out such mishaps.
The AstraZeneca preparation has not yet been approved in the USA. The country currently relies on J&J, Moderna as well as Biontech and Pfizer. According to US disease expert Anthony Fauci, the country may no longer need the AstraZeneca vaccine.
