Pfizer-BioNTech announced Monday that it reached an agreement with the European Commission and its member states to provide over 200 million additional doses of Comirnaty vaccines against COVID-19.

BioNTech, founded by a Turkish immigrant couple in Germany, and its US partner Pfizer also said the details of the contract are "currently being finalized."

The announced 200 million doses will be added to the 450 million doses already planned to be delivered in 2022 based on previously signed agreements, said the statement.

So, the total number of the COVID-19 vaccine doses to be delivered to the European Commission member states by Pfizer-BioNTech next year will reach at least 650 million doses.

"This order would also cover potential vaccines adapted to the Omicron variant without additional costs, if a variant vaccine is determined to be needed and subsequently authorized or approved," the statement added.

In May, Pfizer-BioNTech agreed to supply 900 million doses to the European Commission in 2022 and 2023, with an option to request up to an additional 900 million doses.

BioNTech-Pfizer’s mRNA-based vaccine, known as Comirnaty, was the first coronavirus vaccine approved for use in the European Union.

At the beginning of the year, it already received approval for emergency use or conditional marketing authorization in more than 45 countries, including the UK, Canada, and the US.

In the EU, the vaccine is administered as a two-dose series, three weeks apart. In addition, a booster third dose is also being administered at least six months after the second dose in individuals 18 years of age and older./aa