White House say reports Trump rejected more Pfizer vaccines 'simply not true'

The White House on Tuesday dismissed news reports that President Trump rejected an offer this summer by Pfizer to buy more than the agreed-upon 100 million doses of its promising coronavirus vaccine.

"It's just simply not true that they offered extra doses, according to the people who are involved in the negotiations," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News on Tuesday morning. "It's just simply not the case that we were offered more and rejected them."

The news reports on Monday suggested that the administration – which had a $1.95 million deal with pharmaceutical firm Pfizer for the 100 million doses – having rejected the offer when the vaccine was still in clinical trials has resulted in other countries leaping ahead of the U.S. in receiving supplies and not having the doses readily available for Americans.

McEnany said the U.S. will be getting the next batch “in short order” and that more from Pfizer would be coming in June or July.

The Food and Drug administration on Tuesday released a report stating the Pfizer vaccine was safe and effective, which is expected to result in the agency’s emergency use approval in the coming days.

Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar said Monday the country has 40 million doses ready and 20 million in reserve.