(NPR) Pharmaceutical giant Merck will help manufacture Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced, calling it “an unprecedented historic step,” considering that the two companies are normally competitors.
Merck will produce the drug substance at the heart of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine as well as work on filling vaccine vials and getting them ready for distribution.
“The U.S. government will facilitate this partnership in several key ways, including invoking the Defense Production Act to equip two Merck facilities to the standards necessary to safety manufacture the vaccine and asking the Department of Defense to provide daily logistical support to strengthen Johnson & Johnson’s efforts,” Psaki said during Tuesday afternoon’s press briefing.
