BERLIN - Germany's health minister on Monday urged COVID-19 vaccine maker Pfizer to stick to its commitments on delivery volumes and dates after the company announced a temporary reduction in deliveries due to construction work at one of its plant.

Jens Spahn said that while Pfizer and its German partner Biotech would make vaccine deliveries this week, there would be shortages over the coming two weeks. Using doses originally earmarked for second shots as initial shots would help bridge that period of shortages, he added.

Pfizer informed the European Union that it would temporarily reduce its deliveries of a COVID-19 vaccine to member states due to construction work at its plant in the Belgian town of Puurs, the German health ministry said on Friday. 

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Riham Alkousaa) ((Riham.Alkousaa@thomsonreuters.com;))