Johnson & Johnson to miss vaccine supply target, EU says

Johnson & Johnson is set to miss their vaccine supply target for the second quarter in a row, a European Union Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The company will miss its supply goal of 55 million doses by the end of June after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) threw out millions of J&J doses due to them being made at a plant with manufacturing problems. 

Although the doses were found not to be contaminated, the EU still tossed them as a “precaution.”

“Following the non-release of these batches, the company is not expected to be in a position to deliver 55 million doses by the end of this quarter,” EU commission spokesperson on health Stefan De Keersmaecker said.

There were 17 million doses tossed out from the Baltimore plant, EMA told Reuters. 

With the doses tossed, J&J has only delivered 12 million of the 55 million doses they owe the EU this quarter.

“The member states and the Commission have voiced their strong concerns regarding this shortfall,” Keersmaecker said.

“Johnson & Johnson remains committed to supplying 200 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union, Norway and Iceland and will continue to update the European Commission and member states in a timely manner as we refine delivery timelines,” J&J said, according to Reuters. 

Other countries have also decided against using J&J doses that were made in the Baltimore plant due to fears of contamination. 

The Hill has reached out to Johnson & Johnson for comment.