How To Make A COVID Vaccine -- Quickly

Global demand for the COVID vaccine is outpacing current supply levels, and ramping up production isn't easy. One of Pfizer's top scientists talked with WNYC about what it would take.

"There are a number of production facilities involved that take it through the steps of making DNA, making the RNA from the DNA, formulating it with a lipid, putting it in vials, inspecting it, quality control, shipping it," says Philip Dormitzer, vice president and chief scientific officer of viral vaccines at Pfizer. "Starting up vaccine production is something with a very long lead time."

Press play to listen to his conversation with WNYC's David Furst.