Covid Vaccine: Which Countries Are In Line For Moderna And Pfizer Vaccine? Know Where India Stands

Pharma companies Pfizer and Moderna have become the frontrunners in the race for an effective Covid-19 vaccine. Know which countries will receive the vaccine first.

New Delhi: The US-based pharma companies Moderna and Pfizer have announced that their vaccine candidate has shown over 90 percent effectiveness. While Moderna has said that it's 94.5 percent effective in preventing Covid-19, Pfizer Inc and German biotech company BioNTech BNT162b2, today announced their mRNA-based vaccine 90% effective in preventing the infection.

The announcement has raised hope across the world as people anticipate the end of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.



Which countries will get the vaccine first?

Moderna vaccine: According to media reports, the US will get 100 million doses in total and around 20million doses by the end of the year. The country also has an option to buy an additional 400million. A report by CNBC says that Canada will get 20 million doses, Switzerland is promised 4.5million doses and the UK will get 50 million doses.  Japan will also 50 million doses of the vaccine. A report by UK based Daily Mail says that Israel and Qatar will also be given priority and that the UK will get just five million doses between April and June.

Pfizer vaccine: The US and Europe are in line to get the first doses of the vaccine. A report by Reuters says that 27 European countries could buy 200 million doses, and have an option to buy another 100 million. On the other hand the United States will get 100 million doses which is a smaller volume than the EU but has an option to buy a further 500 million.

Where does India stand?

A report by news agency ANI says that the Indian government is in dialogue with Moderna and Pfizer, regarding the Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

A senior government official said, “The government is in dialogue with both domestic and international vaccine manufacturers. Not only with Moderna--the government is also in communication with Pfizer, Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech, and Zydus Cadila for their Covid-19 vaccine candidate in terms of safety, immunogenicity and efficacy.“

But in the case of Pfizer vaccine, the cold-chain requirement can pose a big challenge for India. A repot By PTI says that the vaccine has to be stored at a temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius.

"The arrangement of cold-chains for storing the vaccine developed by Pfizer at a low temperature of minus 70 degrees Celsius is a big challenge and it will not be easy for any nation. But then, if at all it has to be obtained, we are examining what we need to do...and will work out a strategy," said NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul.