Aug 3 (Reuters) – Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) on Wednesday maintained its full-year COVID-19 vaccine sales forecast of $21 billion as canceled orders from low- and middle-income nations through the COVAX program offset gains from new booster dose orders. Moderna shares jumped nearly 17% in morning trading after the company also announced a $3 billion share buyback plan. Moderna has begun producing a redesigned booster shot targeting both the original coronavirus as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. It signed a $1.74 billion deal with the U.S. government last week for 66 million doses to be available this fall and winter, if cleared by health regulators. Despite the contract, Moderna kept its sales forecast unchanged as doses earmarked for the COVAX vaccine sharing program remain unallocated due to low demand. “It's because of COVAX,” Chief Executive Stephane Bancel said in an interview. “COVAX does not want the doses that they have ordered.”
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