Pfizer expects to cut COVID-19 vaccine production time by close to 50% as production ramps up, efficiencies increase

Pfizer is ramping up its vaccine production process while making it more efficient, and anticipates it will be able to reduce by nearly one-half the amount of time it takes to manufacture a batch of COVID-19 vaccines, from 110 days to an average of 60 days. Pfizer makes it COVID-19 vaccines at three facilities in Chesterfield, MO; Andover, MA; and Kalamazoo, MI. Chaz Calitri, Pfizer’s vice president for operations for sterile injectables at the company’s Kalamazoo plant, says: “Just in the last month we’ve doubled output.” He says immediately after vials of vaccine began coming off the production line, engineers started examining ways to accelerate production. Company officials note that as quality control and testing are done more rapidly, Pfizer continues to adhere to FDA regulations and best manufacturing practices.