Pfizer will produce COVID-19 vaccine in Kalamazoo; Whitmer responds
LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer responded in a written statement on Tuesday to pharmaceutical company Pfizer's announcement the first people had been dosed in a vaccine trial to prevent COVID-19.
The company also announced the finished vaccine would be manufactured in Kalamazoo.
"We are so proud that one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in the world is the Pfizer site right here in Kalamazoo, Michigan," Whitmer said. "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.”
Pfizer representatives said they were making further investments to scale up manufacturing and distribution capabilities. They said the company's clinical trial supply would be made at sites in Andover, Massachusetts and Chesterfield, Missouri, while the initial manufacturing would happen in Kalamazoo.
“This is great news for our families, our neighbors, and those serving on the front lines during this crisis,” Whitmer said. “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."
Representatives of Whitmer's office said the trial was part of a global development program, with the first stage of the study happening at four sites across the United States:
- New York University School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- University of Rochester School of Medicine
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Additionally, there were plans to implement more sites as the program moved into later stages of development throughout the year.
