Wuhan novel coronavirus (COVID-19) (Image: Wikimedia)
President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that pharmaceutical giant Merck will partner with Johnson & Johnson to help boost vaccine production.
While the two companies are traditionally rivals in the pharmaceutical and vaccine market, Johnson & Johnson is expecting rollout delays after their initial 3.9 million doses shipped Monday. Merck announced at the end of February that they would discontinue their research into a COVID-19 vaccine and focus efforts on manufacturing the J&J vaccine.
“Merck remains steadfast in our commitment to contribute to the global response to the pandemic and to preparing to address future pandemics,” said a Merck spokesperson soon after their announcement that they would be focusing on manufacturing instead of research and development.
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in people 18 and older by the CDC Monday. On the same day, Johnson & Johnson announced they would be sending 3.9 million vials of their single-dose vaccine around the country. With Merck pitching in, Biden’s promise that every American can be vaccinated by July appears more possible by the day.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Rahm Emanuel, former White House chief of staff in the Obama administration, ambassador to Japan…
Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking a step further to dismantle a Watergate-era Justice Department…
On April 2, Attorney General Pam Bondi sold off her shares in Trump Media Stock,…
Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Donald Trump's recent efforts to raise tariffs, describing…
Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments on President Donald Trump's executive order to end…
Last week, Florida became the second state to ban fluoride from public drinking water officially.…
