Shortage Of Vital Components Is Threatening The Global Covid Vaccine Rollout

A shortage of plastic growbags where vaccine cells are grown has hampered the global vaccine supply, according to the Novavax chief executive. Photograph: Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock

The Guardian: Global Covid vaccine rollout threatened by shortage of vital components

Pharmaceutical firms warn of delays to items such as the large bags in which vaccine cells are grown

Vaccine-makers around the world face shortages of vital components including large plastic growbags, according to the head of the firm that is manufacturing a quarter of the UK’s jab supply.

Stan Erck, the chief executive of Novavax – which makes the second vaccine to be grown and bottled entirely in Britain – told the Observer that the shortage of 2,000-litre bags in which the vaccine cells were grown was a significant hurdle for global supply.

His warning came as bag manufacturers revealed that some pharmaceutical firms were waiting up to 12 months for the sterile single-use disposable plastic containers, which are used to make medicines of all kinds, including the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax Covid-19 vaccines.

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WNU Editor: These vaccine component shortages are unfortunately happening at a time when Covid-19 cases and deaths are rising for many countries worldwide .... Countries worldwide hit new records for virus cases, deaths (AP).