Pfizer to open Covid-19 vaccine facility in Ireland

Pfizer is to begin producing a key ingredient for its Covid-19 vaccine at a facility in Ireland.

The firm said it had made various improvements to the supply chain since it and vaccine development partner BioNTech had begun rolling out the drug in December, and as a result the network required an additional European facility.

An existing Pfizer facility in Grange Castle, Dublin, will be adapted to produce the "mRNA drug substance", a core component in the vaccine, at a cost of $40m. Around 75 jobs will also be created.

In a statement, Pfizer said output would start later this year: "Given the extensive technical transfer process, on-site development, equipment installation and regulatory approvals needed for the site, we expect it will be brought onto the network by the end of 2021."

Irish taoiseach Michael Martin tweeted: "Not only will the $40m investment create 75 new jobs…it also puts Ireland at the heart of the EU’s fight against the pandemic."

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorised for use around the world, including in the US, UK and European Union. By the start of May, a total of 430m doses had been shipped to 91 countries. Earlier this month, Pfizer lifted its full-year forecasts for revenues from the vaccine to $26bn from $15bn, after sales reached $3.5bn in the first quarter.

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine for 12 to 15-year olds.