As the US prepares for another blast from mother nature, Pfizer announced it will be stepping up to help with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall in Florida with devastating impacts.
Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the Tampa area on Wednesday where Pfizer has a major manufacturing facility.
Tweeting on X, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer is “committed to doing everything we can to provide support during this difficult time.”
“Like many people, I have watched with a heavy heart as the scale of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene has become fully evident,” he said. “Now it seems Hurricane Milton is heading toward the Tampa area, where we have a major Pfizer facility.”
Bourla outlined several things Pfizer will help with in relief efforts, which include offering financial assistance to the American Red Cross and International Medical Corps for emergency and health services. It will collaborate with other donation partners as well to meet urgent medical supply needs.
Pfizer will also activate its patient assistance program to ensure ongoing access to Pfizer medications.
Additionally, the pharma giant will be launching a Disaster Match campaign through The Pfizer Foundation where it will match Pfizer employee donations dollar-for-dollar to boost the relief efforts.
Related: Top IV Fluid Maker Baxter Uncertain About Recovery Time for Facility Hit by Hurricane Helene
The National Weather Service reported that Hurricane Milton unexpectedly intensified into a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday. However, it is expected to weaken slightly to a strong Category 3 before making landfall near Tampa late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Pfizer’s commitment to relief efforts comes shortly after Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across the eastern US, with North Carolina suffering significant damage.
Baxter International, the country’s main supplier of hospital IV fluids, experienced severe flooding at its North Cove facility in Marion, North Carolina due to Helene, leading to a temporary shutdown as the company works on recovery efforts. In a recent update on the situation, Baxter said it remains unsure when the facility will be up and running again.
As of Monday morning, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration reported the evacuation of 64 healthcare facilities, including four hospitals, 21 assisted living centers and 33 nursing homes.
Last July, Pfizer’s manufacturing facility in Rocky Mount, North Carolina sustained significant damage from a tornado. The facility is a crucial producer of sterile injectable medicines, supplying nearly 25 percent of these products to US hospitals. The tornado caused significant damage to the plant’s storage areas, leading to concerns about potential drug shortages. Pfizer was able to restart production at the plant in late September 2023 and operations were fully restored at the end of May 2024.
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