Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on the day's biggest business stories
Subscribe to Axios Closer for insights into the day’s business news and trends and why they matter
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Sign up for Axios NW Arkansas
Stay up-to-date on the most important and interesting stories affecting NW Arkansas, authored by local reporters
Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
Vaccine makers have drastically increased their manufacturing capacity, and output of the three vaccines authorized in the U.S. is expected to in March be nearly triple the amount produced in February, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Why it matters: The faster shots are made, the faster they can be put in arms, and the sooner life can begin to approach normal.
Details: Pfizer, its partner BioNTech, and Moderna have figured out ways to speed up the process, including scaling up production lines and making certain raw materials themselves.
- The federal government has used the Defense Production Act to help manufacturers access supplies.
- New partnerships with other drug companies — like Johnson & Johnson's with Merck — will also increase total vaccine output.
By the numbers: The monthly output of the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines is expected to rise from 48 million doses in February to 132 million doses in March, according to estimates by analysts at Evercore ISI.
- Around 2.5 million Americans are being vaccinated a day, on average.
- The expected increase in supply should allow 76 million Americans to be fully vaccinated in March, another 75 million to be vaccinated in April and then 89 million in May, according to Evercore estimates.
- The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses.