BioNTech is already producing its vaccine at its plant in Mainz, with other third-party facilities in Germany also in production. A Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium as well as other Pfizer facilities in the US also produce the joint venture's vaccine.

Last year, BioNTech said the acquisition of the vaccine plant in Marburg — from the pharmaceutical firm Novartis — would allow it to produce tens of millions more vaccine doses a month.

Earlier this month, BioNTech said in a statement that it was planning to manufacture two billion doses of their vaccine in 2021, and would work towards increasing their deliveries to parties they had “we contractually committed to.”

“In order to respond to an increased global demand, we plan to manufacture two billion doses of our COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 by expanding the previously expected output of 1.3 billion doses by more than 50%. We are on track to scale-up our manufacturing capacities,” the statement read.

“Pfizer and BioNTech continue to work toward increased deliveries beginning the week of February 15, ensuring we will supply the full quantity of vaccine doses in the first quarter we contractually committed to and up to an additional 75 million doses to the European Union in the second quarter,” it added.