That sounds like a lot until you know that other countries have ordered massively higher multiples; Canada has ordered over 10x as much as it needs, the EU has purchased 3x, and even the dysfunctional shitfest that is the UK has ordered something like 7x. You have to hedge against some vaccines turning out to not be as efficacious as others, and the potential of it wearing off and some people needing to be treated a second time. This is going to be a cash cow for the pharma companies for some time to come.
Oh I know, it also doesn't take into account the options the US has in place to order more. For instance, the US is close to optioning another 100M from Pfizer and has similar deals in place with Moderna and Novavax, so 153% is just a base percentage. Of course, that entails the drug companies making an immense amount of a vaccine that has never been approved and produced before.
Messenger RNA which is what these vaccines are made of, is a relatively new treatment and the companies making it pivoted from cancer treatments to virus treatments. So who the freak knows if they can produce what they say they can produce or contracted to.
I am ok with this being a cash cow if and only if:
1) They can actually deliver the amounts sufficient to vaccinate a substantial percent of the population, particularly those in dire need of it.
2.) The efficacy of the vaccines are near what they say or high enough to put a dent in the virus spreading or larger, stop the pandemic , preferably both.
3) Use this experience as a test run for the real potential of messenger rna treatments, such as cancer, genetic disorders, more virulent diseases and the gold standard-custom tailored treatments for the sick.
If stuff like that were to happen then they can milk the vaccine for all it's worth imo.
