CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Moderna announced Thursday it is beefing up global manufacturing of its COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to produce up to 3 billion doses in 2022.
The company predicts supplying between 800 million and 1 billion doses worldwide this year. But it’s looking ahead as much of the world still will need a first round of COVID-19 vaccinations next year — and to be ready if and when people may need a booster shot.
Moderna’s vaccine is authorized for use by adults in the U.S., European Union and multiple other countries. The company expects data soon from a U.S. study of the two-dose vaccine in 12- to 17-year-olds, and has begun testing the shots in younger children. Also underway are studies of doses tweaked to better match a worrisome mutated version of the coronavirus.
Workers unload a shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at the FedEx hub in Toronto, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (Cole BurstonThe Canadian Press via AP)
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Biden declared “America is rising anew” as he called for expanding programs to drive economy past pandemic
— India sets another record with 375K new cases as it gears up to expand vaccinations to all adults
People visit at a departure lobby of Haneda airport in Tokyo Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the start of the country's "Golden Week" holidays. (Ryosuke OzawaKyodo News via AP)
— As many as one-third of Mexicans may have been exposed to virus in 2020
— Some Californians can’t get vaccine despite surge in supply
— Follow more of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
Cemetery workers carry the coffin of a COVID-19 victim to his grave during a nighttime funeral at the Vila Formosa cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (AP PhotoNelson Antoine)
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is extending an already monthlong lockdown by two weeks as the country’s worst coronavirus infection spike starts to ease but remains alarming.
President Rodrigo Duterte said in televised remarks Thursday night that the second-most restrictive lockdown level will now run through May 14 in metropolitan Manila and four nearby provinces, a region of more than 25 million people. Mayors, however, cut a nine-hour night curfew in metropolitan Manila to six hours to help battered businesses.
Duterte is warning mayors and village chiefs that they face jail if they don’t prevent gatherings and other events that violate the pandemic restrictions.
Confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines soared past 1 million Monday, with deaths now at more than 17,000, the second highest in Southeast Asia.