coronavirus
#Coronavirus - Commission signs first contract with AstraZeneca
Published
4 years agoon
Through the contract, all member states will be able to purchase 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with an option for further 100 million doses, to be distributed on a population-based pro-rata basis.
The Commission continues discussing similar agreements with other vaccine manufacturers and has concluded successful exploratory talks with Sanofi-GSK on 31 July, Johnson & Johnson on 13 August, CureVac on 18 August and Moderna on 24 August.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The Commission is working non-stop to provide EU citizens with a safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 as quickly as possible. The entry into force of the contract with AstraZeneca is an important step forward in this respect. I am looking forward to enriching our portfolio of potential vaccines thanks to contracts with other pharmaceutical companies and engaging with international partners for universal and equitable access to vaccination.”
Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides (pictured) said: “Our negotiations have now delivered clear results: a first contract signed delivering on our commitment to ensure a diversified vaccine portfolio to protect the public health of our citizens. Today's signature - made possible by the important groundwork undertaken by France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands - will ensure that doses of a vaccine which, if proven effective and safe, will be delivered across Member States. We expect to announce additional agreements with other vaccine manufacturers very swiftly. “
AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford joined forces to develop and distribute the University's potential recombinant adenovirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection.
AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate is already in large-scale Phase II/III Clinical Trials after promising results in Phase I/II concerning safety and immunogenicity.
The contract is based on the Advanced Purchase Agreement approved on 14 August with AstraZeneca, which will be financed with the Emergency Support Instrument. The “Inclusive Vaccine Alliance” countries (Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands) who started negotiations with AstraZeneca asked the Commission to take over through an agreement signed on behalf of all member states.
AdvertisementThe decision to support the vaccine proposed by AstraZeneca is based on a sound scientific approach and the technology used (a non-replicative recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus-based vaccine ChAdOx1), speed at delivery at scale, cost, risk sharing, liability and the production capacity able to supply the whole of the EU, among others.
The regulatory processes will be flexible but remain robust. Together with the member states and the European Medicines Agency, the Commission will use existing flexibilities in the EU's regulatory framework to accelerate the authorisation and availability of successful vaccines against COVID-19, while maintaining the standards for vaccine quality, safety and efficacy.
The necessary safety requirements and specific assessment by the European Medicines Agency as part of the EU market authorisation procedure guarantee that citizens' rights will remain fully protected.
In order to compensate for such high risks taken by manufacturers, the Advanced Purchase Agreements provide for member states to indemnify the manufacturer for liabilities incurred under certain conditions. Liability still remains with the companies.
Background
The contract with AstraZeneca is an important step in the implementation of the European Vaccines Strategy, adopted by the Commission on 17 June 2020. This strategy aims to secure for all European citizens high-quality, safe, effective and affordable vaccines within 12 to 18 months.
To do so, and together with the member states, the Commission is agreeing Advance Purchase Agreements with vaccine producers reserving or giving the member states the right to buy a given number of vaccine doses for a certain price, as and when a vaccine becomes available.
Advanced Purchase Agreements are financed with the Emergency Support Instrument, which has funds dedicated to the creation of a portfolio of potential vaccines with different profiles and produced by different companies.
The European Commission is also committed to ensuring that everyone who needs a vaccine gets it, anywhere in the world and not only at home. No one will be safe until everyone is safe. This is why it has raised almost €16 billion since 4 May 2020 under the Coronavirus Global Response, the global action for universal access to tests, treatments and vaccines against coronavirus and for the global recovery.
More information
Share this article:
EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter.
Heat pumps crucial to green transition for steel and other industries
Fiat 500 vs. Mini Cooper: A Detailed Comparison
Swansea academics awarded €480,000 Horizon Europe grant to support new research and innovation project
Transforming Your Living Room: A Glimpse into the Future of Entertainment Tech
Companies Continue Enjoying 5G Benefits as Wipro and Nokia Collaborate
Bahamas files Legal Submissions on Climate Change with International Court of Justice
La « fin de la croissance chinoise » ? Non au conformisme aveugle
Aurora Minerals Group entangled in State corruption
Moldova’s Constitutional Court Strikes Down Ban on Opposition Candidates
Aurora Minerals Group entangled in State corruption
La « fin de la croissance chinoise » ? Non au conformisme aveugle
Companies Continue Enjoying 5G Benefits as Wipro and Nokia Collaborate
Bahamas files Legal Submissions on Climate Change with International Court of Justice
Transforming Your Living Room: A Glimpse into the Future of Entertainment Tech
Swansea academics awarded €480,000 Horizon Europe grant to support new research and innovation project
Fiat 500 vs. Mini Cooper: A Detailed Comparison
Two sessions 2024 kicks off: Here's why it matters
President Xi Jinping's 2024 New Year message
Inspirational tour across China
A decade of BRI: From vision to reality
"Sneaking Cults" - Award-winning documentary screening successfully held in Brussels
Religion and Children's Rights - Opinion from Brussels
Over 100 Church members beaten and arrested at the Turkish Border
Deepening Energy Cooperation with Azerbaijan - Europe’s Reliable Partner for Energy Security.
Trending
-
Green Deal5 days ago
Heat pumps crucial to green transition for steel and other industries
-
Motoring3 days ago
Fiat 500 vs. Mini Cooper: A Detailed Comparison
-
Horizon Europe3 days ago
Swansea academics awarded €480,000 Horizon Europe grant to support new research and innovation project
-
Lifestyle3 days ago
Transforming Your Living Room: A Glimpse into the Future of Entertainment Tech