Pfizer has halved the number of coronavirus vaccines to be delivered to Lithuania over the next four weeks, the country’s Health Ministry said on Friday.
Late on Thursday, Pfizer and BioNTech said that they would deliver 54,405 instead of 108,810 doses to Lithuania.
“We will make sure that there are enough doses to give the second vaccine shot to the persons” who have already received the first jab, the ministry told BNS.
Vaccination priorities would not be amended and the process of vaccination would continue as scheduled but would take longer than planned, the ministry said, adding that the shipments have been cut to all the European Union member state.
Pfizer said the shipments have been cut due to the need to reprogramme, validate, and authorise new production lines.
Read more: Who will get vaccinated in Lithuania and when
According to the ministry, a representative of Pfizer-BioNTech assured that subsequent vaccine shipments would be increased and the manufacturer would specify, in the near future, the precise quantities that would be delivered to the country.
Lithuania has ordered a total of 3.1 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Depsite the temporary cut in supply, this number will remain unchanged.
Some 38,000 people in Lithuania have already received the first jab of coronavirus vaccine, according to the country's statistics department. Lithuania is yet to begin administering the second, booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine.
Read more: Lithuania opts for extra Pfizer vaccine shots after Moderna ups prices
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