According to a press release, the U.S. will pay Pfizer and BioNTech $1.95 million under an agreement that will give the U.S. government 100 million doses of the vaccine that Pfizer and BioNTech are working to develop.  The agreement also calls for the U.S. to be able to purchase an additional  500 million additional doses.

The American company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech announced in early May that their joint venture was beginning human clinical trials of its possible vaccine.  On July 13, the companies announced they had received FDA Fast Track  Designation to continue with trials on two possible vaccines.

In a release by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency said “By entering into this agreement now, a safe and effective vaccine can be shipped quickly if FDA grants EUA or licensure.  This approach helps meet the U.S. government’s … goal to begin delivering 300 million of doses of safe and effective vaccine to the American people by the end of the year. ”

HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the agency is assembling a portfolio of vaccines.  The Agency also said the vaccine will be available to the American public at no cost, with health providers billing insurance companies for administering the vaccine.

Pfizer and BioNTech also announced an agreement to sell up to 30 million doses of a successful vaccine to the United Kingdom.  The actual terms depend on timing of delivery of a vaccine and the amount of vaccine that can be provided.