The European Commission announced on Friday that it had reserved on behalf of EU member states up to 400 million doses of the potential vaccine against Covid-19 developed by the American Johnson & Johnson.
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Exploratory talks between the Commission and Johnson & Johnson that ended on Friday aim to put in place a framework for a first purchase of 200 million doses, which could be followed by a second purchase for a similar number doses, specifies the Commission in a press release.
Discussions with several manufacturers
The envisaged contract must still give rise to negotiations between the Commission and the American firm. The European executive "is continuing intensive discussions " with other vaccine manufacturers, the statement said. On July 31, the Commission announced that it had reserved 300 million doses of the potential vaccine from the French laboratory Sanofi.
“ The lives of our citizens and our economy require a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus. Today's discussions bring us closer to this goal, ”Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, quoted in the statement.
In mid-June, the Commission published a “ Vaccines strategy ”. This action plan provides for signing " advance purchase contracts " with vaccine producers, funded by the emergency aid instrument endowed with nearly 2.4 billion euros set up during the crisis. . The aim is to ' ensure sufficient vaccine production in the EU ' and ' sufficient supply to Member States '.
