MODERNA PLANS TO SEND 110M VACCINE DOSES TO AFRICA

Moderna has reached a deal to sell as many as 110 million coronavirus vaccine doses to the African Union, the company announced.

The deal will involve the U.S. government deferring delivery of 33 million doses of the company’s vaccine so that they can be purchased by the African Union.

The company announced the deal on Tuesday morning, saying it would deliver 15 million doses in the fourth quarter of 2021, 35 million in the first quarter of 2022 and up to 60 million in the second quarter of 2022.

White House role: The White House, which later took credit for helping to broker the deal, said the U.S. would defer delivery of roughly 33 million Moderna vaccine doses it had already purchased so that the African Union can instead purchase and distribute them.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the doses were originally supposed to be delivered to the U.S. between December and February.

“This deal will get the continent Moderna doses that have been long awaited and in high demand,” Psaki said during a press briefing.