European Commission President Threatens to Block AstraZeneca Vaccine Exports Over Supply Shortfall
AstraZeneca
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer
European Union
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BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said on the 20th that if the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford is not supplied to the EU in full accordance with the contract, the EU would not rule out banning exports of the vaccine from its member states.
In an interview with Germany’s Funke Media Group, von der Leyen stated that the EU retains the option to ban exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine. “This sends a message to AstraZeneca: fulfill your contracts with the EU before delivering to other countries.”
Von der Leyen stated that AstraZeneca had committed in its contract to deliver 90 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the first quarter, but has so far delivered only about 30%. The EU has formally written to AstraZeneca to express its dissatisfaction.
Von der Leyen stated that, in accordance with the contract between the European Union and AstraZeneca, vaccines supplied to the EU are produced at manufacturing facilities in both the EU and the United Kingdom. “However, not only have we received no vaccines from the UK, but we are also delivering vaccines to them (the UK).”
AstraZeneca explained that vaccine production delays at its EU plants had led to insufficient vaccine supplies for the European Union. However, according to EU officials, it was infuriating that vaccines were still being shipped from the EU to the UK under these circumstances.
Currently, European countries, including Germany, are facing a third wave of the pandemic, with vaccine shortages becoming increasingly prominent.
EU member states such as Germany and France had temporarily suspended AstraZeneca vaccinations earlier this month. On the 18th, the European Medicines Agency released preliminary findings, concluding that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine “outweigh the risks,” prompting Germany, France, and other countries to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations.