Unusual, but necessary.
Hennepin Health Care's Dr. David Hilden call it "terrific news" that drugmaker Merck & Co. will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson's newly approved coronavirus vaccine.
"It's exactly what's called for in a country that looks out for one another," Dr. Hilden told Dave Lee on the WCCO Morning News.
It's a move that's geared to expand vaccine supplies more quickly.
"Leadership needs to happen, either at the government or elsewhere to put these companies together," Dr. Hilden said. "It would dramatically increase the number of doses."
A Biden administration officials confirmed the collaboration Tuesday morning.
Officials have said J&J faced unexpected production issues with its vaccine and produced only 3.9 million doses ahead of receiving emergency use authorization on Saturday.
The company is still on pace for 100 million doses by the end of June, but the assist from Merck will speed that timeline up.
"One thing Merck knows how to do is make millions and millions and millions of doses of vaccine," said Dr. Hilden.
