Moderna sees shortfall in Britain COVID vaccine shipments, EU deliveries on track

COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmaceutical company Apotex in Toronto
Nurses from Humber River Hospital's mobile vaccine clinic prepare the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at pharmaceutical company Apotex, as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 13, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio

ZURICH, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Moderna (MRNA.O) expects a shortfall in COVID-19 vaccine doses from its European supply chain hitting second-quarter delivery quantities for Britain and Canada, though European Union- and Swiss-bound shipments are on track, a spokesperson said.

The delays, first announced on Friday when Canada said Moderna would be delivering only about half the planned 1.2 million doses by the end of April, come as Switzerland's Lonza (LONN.S) ramps up three new production lines to make active ingredients for Moderna vaccine supplies outside of the United States. read more

"The trajectory of vaccine manufacturing ramp-up is not linear, and despite best efforts, there is a shortfall in previously estimated doses from the European supply chain," Moderna said in a statement.

Lonza didn't immediately return a phone call and email seeking comment on any issues in its production.

Reporting by John Miller; editing by David Evans

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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