EU signs contract for 1.8bn more Pfizer vaccines
pharmafile | May 20, 2021 | News story | |
The European Commission has signed a deal with Pfizer-BioNTech to purchase an additional 1.8 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine today.
The deal will allow for 900 million doses of the current vaccine and of a vaccine adapted to variants, with the option to purchase an additional 900 million.
It is required that the vaccine, which will be delivered between the end of 2021 to 2023, is produced within the EU, and that essential components are sourced from the EU.
The contract highlights that, from the start of the supply in 2022, the delivery to the EU is guaranteed ensuring “timely” deliveries of the doses.
It will also be encouraged for member states to resell or donate doses to countries in need outside the EU, or through the COVAX Facility, “contributing to a global and fair access” to the doses across the world.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “With our signature, the new contract is now in force, which is good news for our long-term fight to protect European citizens against the virus and its variants.
“Production and delivery in the EU of up to 1.8 billion doses are guaranteed. Potential contracts with other manufacturers will follow the same model, to the benefit of all.”
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “We need to be one step ahead of the virus. This means having access to adapted vaccines to protect us against the threat of variants, booster vaccines to prolong immunity, as well as protecting our younger population.
“Our focus is a priority on technologies that have proven their worth, like mRNA vaccines, but we keep our options open. The past months have clearly demonstrated the need to have access to a broad portfolio of vaccines and different technologies, as well as reliable partners.
“As the pace of vaccination increases every day and work on effective therapeutics intensifies, we can look ahead with more optimism and confidence.”
Lilly Subbotin
