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ZURICH, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A vaccine delivery from U.S.
drugmaker Moderna to Switzerland scheduled for February
1 may fall short of the planned 300,000 shots, a Swiss newspaper
reported on Friday.
The Federal Health Ministry has "signaled" to at least one
of Switzerland's 26 cantons that the delivery could be smaller
than planned, Blick reported.
Health Ministry Vice Director Nora Kronig confirmed there
were indications of a shortfall, Blick reported, though she told
the newspaper that the nature of the issue was still unclear.
A Moderna spokesman did not immediately respond to a request
from Reuters for comment.
The company told Blick that it expected to meet European
delivery targets for the first quarter.
Kronig's office also did not immediately respond early
Thursday.
There have been delivery issues involving vaccine maker
AstraZeneca, as well as Pfizer and its German
partner Biontech, as demand is high but supplies
remain tight.
The European Union has demanded AstraZeneca provide a plan
for how it will supply the bloc, after delivery delays.
Pfizer and Biontech vaccine deliveries, including to
Switzerland, have been impacted as they temporarily slow
production at a plant in Puurs, Belgium, in preparation for
boosting its capacity.
Switzerland is aiming to get 1.5 million vaccines from
Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna through February, and the nation of
8.6 million hopes to vaccinate everyone who wants a COVID-19
shot by summer.
Swiss contract drugmaker Lonza, which manufactures
ingredients for Moderna's mRNA vaccine, said on Wednesday it may
be "a couple of months" before new Swiss plants dedicated to
producing the shots will be at "cruising speed".
(Reporting by John Miller; editing by Jason Neely)
