The supply of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is set for a big boost, as its fierce competitor, Merck & Co., has agreed to help produce the shots.
Under the deal, to be announced later Tuesday by President Biden, one Merck facility in the United States will manufacture the vaccine, while a second facility will package it.
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The arrangement could double the production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to a Biden administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Washington Post. The official said the administration had been looking for a way to boost production since it became clear that Johnson & Johnson had fallen behind on manufacturing its vaccine.
It’s not clear how soon Merck will begin producing the vaccine. It could take two months to get the production facility ready and even longer to get the production facility up and running.
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As of Monday, 96 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had been distributed. Nearly 77 million have been administered, with over 50 million people receiving at least one dose and more than 25 million receiving two.