PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquarted in New York City is planning to manufacture its first COVID-19 vaccine in Kalamazoo County.
On Monday, Pfizer Inc. conducted a dozen human trials of their first BNT162 vaccine program to prevent COVID-19 infection. The first stage of the study is taking place at four sites across the U.S. with plans to rapidly scale up the number of sites across the country.
But the big announcement for Michigan is that Pfizer is planning their initial manufacturing of the vaccine at their facility in Portage, the largest manufacturing site in its Pfizer network.
In a written statement on Tuesday, May 5, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “This is great news for our families, our neighbors, and those serving on the front lines during this crisis. COVID-19 has shown how vulnerable our country is when it comes to supply chain and much of the lifesaving materials we need are manufactured out of the country. That’s why we are so proud that one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in the world is the Pfizer site right here in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In fact, Michigan has a strong history of vaccine development with the polio and anthrax vaccines. Pfizer is a great partner and the State of Michigan and our strong manufacturing roots stand ready to serve.”
According to the New York Times, if the tests are successful, the vaccine could be ready for emergency use here as early as September.
“With our unique and robust clinical study program underway, starting in Europe and now the U.S., we look forward to advancing quickly and collaboratively with our partners at BioNTech and regulatory authorities to bring a safe and efficacious vaccine to the patients who need it most. The short, less than four-month timeframe in which we’ve been able to move from pre-clinical studies to human testing is extraordinary and further demonstrates our commitment to dedicating our best-in-class resources, from the lab to manufacturing and beyond, in the battle against COVID-19,” said Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s Chairman and CEO.
Kalamazoo county officials are also praising the new announcement.
In a written statement Senator Sean McCann said, “This is potentially great news for our world and our community. More than 1.2 million people are suffering from COVID-19 in the U.S., and all of us are looking to the best and brightest scientists in the world for medical advances that could begin to restore a sense of normalcy and hope for the future. Pfizer is delivering on that front, and the fact that we could possibly manufacture a cure in our own backyard says volumes about the quality industry and community we have here. Kalamazoo County has a long, proud tradition of innovation in life sciences dating back to W.E. Upjohn and Homer Stryker, and it is only fitting that we should lead the way today in the fight against COVID-19.”
Congressman Fred Upton also released a statement commending Pfizer on bringing the manufacturing of the vaccine to Southwest Michigan.
“I am delighted Pfizer recognized this Kalamazoo workforce and facility to do such important work. The entire industry is working together and committed to develop and produce a vaccine as quickly as possible. We know that a vaccine is the only true way for us to get back to normal and begin on our road to recovery. That recovery begins with Pfeizer’s exciting developments here in Kalamazoo,” said Upton.
More information on the vaccine process can be found here.
