Merck/J&J deal may help US get enough vaccine for all adults by end of May

Enlarge / US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the government's pandemic response, including the recently announced partnership between Johnson & Johnson and Merck to produce more Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) looks on at the White House in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2021. (credit: Getty | Jim Watson)

With a White House-brokered deal, vaccine giant Merck has agreed to help Johnson & Johnson boost its COVID-19 vaccine production, which is woefully behind on its manufacturing schedule.

President Joe Biden announced today that, with the new deal, the country is on track to have enough COVID-19 vaccine doses to vaccinate every adult in the country by the end of May-two months ahead of earlier plans.

About three weeks ago, we were able to say that we'll have enough vaccine supply for adults by the end of July," the president said in an afternoon address. And I'm pleased to announce today, as a consequence of the stepped-up process that I've ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply-I'll say it again-for every adult in America by the end of May. By the end of May. That's progress-important progress."

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