Biden wants to use the Defence Production Act for vaccines but, really these are

[question everything]

not masks, or bullets or troop carriers. Vaccines need special sterile facilities. Perhaps he is thinking of other pharmaceutical operations.

[Thekaspervote]

1. He's using the DPA for manufacturer, will use FEMA and other agencies for distribution

[Blues Heron]

2. I doubt he's going to set up a vaccine still in the back of a barn

we need to throw everything we can at this, we're so far behind.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Actually, he mentioned all that in his speech...

he included the infrastructure needed, including vials, needles, PPE, etc.

He's got some smart folks on board. I think they have this.

[PJMcK]

10. President Biden is on this

Really, it's hard to imagine how anyone could do worse than Trump. So, anything that the new administration does will be better than the NOTHING Trumps & Co. have been doing since last year.

[uncle ray]

4. there is certainly capacity out there that is being mis or under utilized.

[Walleye]

5. They also need vials and swabs for the vaccine distribution

That’s probably what they will ramp up production of

[riversedge]

6. The actual production of the vaccines will still be done by the drug companies but Ramped

up considerably under National Defense.

[OrlandoDem2]

7. Biden is bringing the full weight of the US government. This is WWII level mobilization.

This is no time for American-style federalism calling for states to carry this out on their own.

We need manpower, resources, and coordination to get vaccines into arms.

[genxlib]

8. It isn't just the vaccine that could be a choke point

There are concerns about needles, syringes, vials, freezers, etc.

Even for the vaccines, it is important that the raw materials for it are readily available so that the qualified manufacturers can work at full capacity.

There is also the possibility that alternate qualified manufacturers can be put to use. If a drug company that doesn't happen to have a vaccine can be compelled to make vaccine instead of Viagra for a few months, so be it. I am being a little bit facetious there because obviously those two things are not similar enough but the point is potentially valid with certain companies/products.

[flamin lib]

9. As a manufacturer's rep I have a small understanding of how the DPA works.

It is intended to be used for National Security purposes. National Security is a catch all phrase and unless Congress defines Covid as outside the realm of National Security the DPA applies to whatever the Administration says.

Once invoked it works kinda like this:

In the case of Moderna it could shut down or re-prioritize production. Worst case, "You will make no other drugs but Vaccine, period." More likely "Shift ALL available production to vaccine and produce it 24/7 adding whatever resources you need." The latter would leave some production for life saving medications but leave cosmetic Botox and ED medication on hold for the duration.

Not sure it would apply to Pfizer as that vaccine was developed in the European branch.

Joe has also said the DPA will be evoked for all the other stuff like syringes, vials and PPE.

The threat of the DPA was all it took to make my manufacturers voluntarily shift production back in the '80s. It was like, 'Fill my orders first or I'll shut your factories down . . .'

[question everything]

14. I think that for Moderna the vaccine is the only product. A new company formed specifically for thi

As for Pfizer, the very first vaccines were celebrated as coming out from Pfizer plant in Michigan.

First trucks with Covid-19 vaccine roll out of Pfizer plant in Michigan

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/first-trucks-covid-19-vaccine-roll-out-pfizer-plant-michigan-n1251037

[Klaralven]

16. Moderna is an R&D company. Manufacture of the vaccine is Lonza, and fill and finish is by Catalent

Since mRNA vaccines have never been manufactured before, setting up new manufacturing capacity requires new capital equipment. That comes from other manufacturers of capital goods.

New production line equipment takes time to plan, order, manufacture, install, test, etc., and political pronouncements have essentially no effect.

[question everything]

17. Thank you for the clarification

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

11. He wants to use it for PPE - good news. Here we are almost a year later and no reliable

affordable sources for N95 masks for front line workers OR for us ordinary people who could use them both for protection when going out .... not to mention finishing our woodworking projects!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cirque du So-What]

12. I have a feeling that President Biden has given consideration to this concern already

[question everything]

15. Really. I hope that we do not fall into a trap of "s/he knows what they are doing"

This has been the difference between us, Democrats, not taking anything at face value, and the Republicans always at lockstep with whoever is in the White House. And, yes, on occasions I was envious on how Republican presidents could pass any legislation that they wanted while our side always had objections. This is why the ACA did not have the public option.

Yes, vials, masks, syringes, etc can be manufactured in many places. Vaccines are biologicals that require special medium like cell culture to produce and test at extreme sterile environment. Please, let's be informed.

[BannonsLiver]

13. I think he and his people know what they are thinking, and doing.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. No worries. Yesterday our company put in a bid to brew it up in a plastic trash can in my basement

We don't do sterile!