German firm BioNTech which produces its vaccine jointly with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-approves-pfizer-covid-vaccine-for-emergency-use-383682">Pfizer</a> of the United States declared on said that "there is no evidence that an adaptation of BioNTech's current COVID-19 vaccine against key identified emerging variants is necessary."

Watch:

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The company had earlier said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-biontech-seek-approval-for-covid-vaccine-for-teens-383535">vaccine</a> works against the&nbsp;variant first found in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-why-india-is-pfizers-shot-at-redemption-383067">India</a>. It has already sent&nbsp;the vaccine to over 90 countries worldwide.

"The aim of this study is to explore the regulatory pathway that BioNTech and Pfizer would pursue if SARS-CoV-2 were to change enough to require an updated vaccine," the company said after announcing that it had began tests in March on a "modified, variant-specific version" of the vaccine.

The vaccine maker has identified Singapore as its Southeast Asia headquarters and manufacturing site which is set to be operational by 2023. The company plans to produce three billion doses by 2021 end and accelerate it to over three billion doses next year.

In a bid to raise production, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/largest-study-on-pfizer-covid-vaccine-says-drug-offers-over-95-protection-383099">BioNTech</a> and Pfizer set licensing and manufacturing partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Novartis and Sanofi.

As Europe battles the virus, the EU last week had struck a deal with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-becomes-first-country-to-authorise-pfizer-covid-vaccine-for-kids-age-12-and-up-383033">Pfizer-BioNTech</a> for up to 1.8 billion extra doses of the vaccine.

"Happy to announce that the EU Commission has just approved a contract for guaranteed 900 million doses (+900 million options) with BioNTech/Pfizer for 2021-2023," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen had said.

The EU chief had said that the mRNA technology used by Pfizer-BioNTech and other vaccine makers has proved safe and effective in Europe. The EU had already secured 600 million doses of the vaccine earlier.

German firm BioNTech which produces its vaccine jointly with Pfizer of the United States declared on said that "there is no evidence that an adaptation of BioNTech's current COVID-19 vaccine against key identified emerging variants is necessary.

German firm BioNTech which produces its vaccine jointly with Pfizer of the United States declared on said that "there is no evidence that an adaptation of BioNTech's current COVID-19 vaccine against key identified emerging variants is necessary." Watch: The company had earlier said that the vaccine works against the variant first found in India. It has already sent the vaccine to over 90 countries worldwide. "The aim of this study is to explore the regulatory pathway that BioNTech and Pfizer would pursue if SARS-CoV-2 were to change enough to require an updated vaccine," the company said after announcing that it had began tests in March on a "modified, variant-specific version" of the vaccine. The vaccine maker has identified Singapore as its Southeast Asia headquarters and manufacturing site which is set to be operational by 2023. The company plans to produce three billion doses by 2021 end and accelerate it to over three billion doses next year. In a bid to raise production, BioNTech and Pfizer set licensing and manufacturing partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Novartis and Sanofi. As Europe battles the virus, the EU last week had struck a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech for up to 1.8 billion extra doses of the vaccine. "Happy to announce that the EU Commission has just approved a contract for guaranteed 900 million doses (+900 million options) with BioNTech/Pfizer for 2021-2023," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen had said. The EU chief had said that the mRNA technology used by Pfizer-BioNTech and other vaccine makers has proved safe and effective in Europe. The EU had already secured 600 million doses of the vaccine earlier.

No evidence vaccine need to be adapted for variants, declares BioNTech

Shanghai&nbsp;Fosun&nbsp;Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a> from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval.

China has been rapidly developing its own Covid-19 vaccine candidates and ramping up production facilities, but local firms have also been partnering with foreign developers to supply the world's most populous country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-expands-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-reassure-its-safety-350100" hreflang="en">US expands Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rollout; reassure its safety</a>

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said its subsidiary had entered into an agreement with the German firm aimed at ensuring "an adequate supply" of vaccines in China, adding it will make an initial payment of 125 million euros ($152 million) before year-end for 50 million doses.

Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK and Singapore.

Its vaccine is based on cutting-edge technology that uses synthetic versions of molecules called messenger RNA to hack into human cells, and effectively turn them into vaccine-making factories.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-joins-us-uk-to-inoculate-people-with-the-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-349832">Canada joins US, UK to inoculate people with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine</a>

China has granted emergency-use status to two candidate vaccines from state-backed Sinopharm and one from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. It has approved a fourth, from CanSino Biologics Inc, for military use.

Separately, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd aims to have enough capacity to produce at least 100 million doses of a vaccine candidate from British partner AstraZeneca PLC by year-end.

Late on Tuesday, Tibet Rhodiola&nbsp;Pharmaceutical Holding Co said it has agreed to double the supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine to its Russian home. It now aims to make enough doses for at least 40 million Russians next year.

The jabs will cost 420 yuan ($64), but the statement did not clarify which vaccine was being offered.

Fosun&nbsp;Pharma&nbsp;has brought two BioNTech candidate COVID-19 vaccines into clinical trials in China and is yet to receive regulatory approval for either.

Fosun Pharma is majority-owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate that owns France-based resort giant Club Med and travel firm Thomas Cook.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd on Wednesday said it will buy at least 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Germany's BioNTech SE for use in mainland China next year if the vaccine receives approval. China has been rapidly developing its own Covid-19 vaccine candidates and ramping up production facilities, but local firms have also been partnering with foreign developers to supply the world's most populous country. Also read: US expands Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine rollout; reassure its safety Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group said its subsidiary had entered into an agreement with the German firm aimed at ensuring "an adequate supply" of vaccines in China, adding it will make an initial payment of 125 million euros ($152 million) before year-end for 50 million doses. Pfizer and BioNTech's mRNA vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in countries such as the US, the UK and Singapore. Its vaccine is based on cutting-edge technology that uses synthetic versions of molecules called messenger RNA to hack into human cells, and effectively turn them into vaccine-making factories. Also read: Canada joins US, UK to inoculate people with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine China has granted emergency-use status to two candidate vaccines from state-backed Sinopharm and one from Sinovac Biotech Ltd. It has approved a fourth, from CanSino Biologics Inc, for military use. Separately, Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co Ltd aims to have enough capacity to produce at least 100 million doses of a vaccine candidate from British partner AstraZeneca PLC by year-end. Late on Tuesday, Tibet Rhodiola Pharmaceutical Holding Co said it has agreed to double the supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine to its Russian home. It now aims to make enough doses for at least 40 million Russians next year. The jabs will cost 420 yuan ($64), but the statement did not clarify which vaccine was being offered. Fosun Pharma has brought two BioNTech candidate COVID-19 vaccines into clinical trials in China and is yet to receive regulatory approval for either. Fosun Pharma is majority-owned by Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate that owns France-based resort giant Club Med and travel firm Thomas Cook.

Chinese pharmaceutical company Fosun Pharma to buy 100 million doses of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine

Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a>, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it.

Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma, the Gulf State's&nbsp;CEO of&nbsp;National Health Regulatory Authority said in a statement "The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the Kingdom's national COVID-19 response."&nbsp;

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Other than Pfizer Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine, Bahrain had also approved Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine in November for use by frontline workers.

There will be an enormous logistical challenge to transport billions of doses at the right temperature across the globe, maintaining the so-called "cold chain" from a vaccine manufacturer into a patient's arm.

Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine for instance, must be stored at a frigid minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit). &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-ceo-not-certain-if-coronavirus-vaccine-will-prevent-transmission-347495" hreflang="en">Pfizer CEO 'not certain' if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission</a>

Britain approved Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from Britain's medicine authority as a global win and a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic, though he recognised the logistical challenges of vaccinating an entire country of 67 million.

Britain's move raised hopes that the tide could soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people globally, hammered the world economy and upended normal life for billions since it emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago.

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after Pfizer published the first data from its final stage clinical trial.

Last month Britain said it expected 10 million doses of the shot in 2020, but the government has said the pace of roll-out will be dependence on delivery. It has ordered 40 million doses in all, enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it.

Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it. Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma, the Gulf State's CEO of National Health Regulatory Authority said in a statement "The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the Kingdom's national COVID-19 response." Other than Pfizer Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine, Bahrain had also approved Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine in November for use by frontline workers. There will be an enormous logistical challenge to transport billions of doses at the right temperature across the globe, maintaining the so-called "cold chain" from a vaccine manufacturer into a patient's arm. Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine for instance, must be stored at a frigid minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit). Also read: Pfizer CEO 'not certain' if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission Britain approved Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history. Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from Britain's medicine authority as a global win and a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic, though he recognised the logistical challenges of vaccinating an entire country of 67 million. Britain's move raised hopes that the tide could soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people globally, hammered the world economy and upended normal life for billions since it emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago. Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after Pfizer published the first data from its final stage clinical trial. Last month Britain said it expected 10 million doses of the shot in 2020, but the government has said the pace of roll-out will be dependence on delivery. It has ordered 40 million doses in all, enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

After UK, Bahrain approves Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine