Pfizer picks St. Louis facility to produce possible COVID-19 vaccine

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is starting trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine and has picked a site in St. Louis to produce it.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page addressed the issue at last night's Council meeting, saying the county has the resources and talent to be a leader in Pfizer's effort. He tweeted about the news saying, "As a doctor, I’ve seen medicine save lives - but a #COVID19 vaccine would truly impact us all."

Related: Both St. Louis City, County will reduce public health restrictions starting May 18

I’m proud that @pfizer chose its St. Louis County facility to produce a new vaccine for #COVID19 simultaneously with clinical trials. As a doctor, I’ve seen medicine save lives - but a #COVID19 vaccine would truly impact us all. https://t.co/u6HAd80oUZ

— County Executive Sam Page (@DrSamPage) May 5, 2020

Pfizer has a pharmaceutical lab located in Chesterfield, off Olive Boulevard near Interstate-64

The trial will test the experimental vaccine on adults ages 18 to 55 in the first stage before moving on to older groups, the company said, adding it hopes to test up to 360 people, reports CNBC. The first participants in the testing of the vaccine have already had their first dose. 

Pfizer is starting trials of the potential COVID-19 vaccine in New York and Maryland, and the clinical trial supply is being produced in suburban St. Louis and in Massachusetts. 

Pfizer is partnering with Germany's BioNTech on the manufacturing of the possible vaccine. 

More candidates are being sought for more testing in Cincinnati and Rochester, New York.

© 2020 KMOX (Entercom). All rights reserved