"
Too optimistic
" on the deliveries of anti-Covid vaccines, the EU wants to beef up mass production to better prepare the Twenty-Seven for the spread of new variants, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
"
We underestimated the difficulties associated with mass production (...) We were too optimistic, and probably too confident about the timely delivery of the doses ordered
", once again acknowledged the head of the European executive in front of MEPs.
Read also: Vaccines in Europe: Ursula von der Leyen in the storm
After the rapid design of vaccines, "
the industry must adapt to the unprecedented pace of science (...) We need increased coordination on key ingredients, we must improve the ramping up of capacities (. ..) in order to make sure that we will be safe next winter despite the variants,
”she insisted.
The Commission, which negotiated the pre-orders on behalf of the Twenty-Seven, has come under fire of criticism following significant delays in the delivery of the first three vaccines authorized in the EU, due to difficulties with the sites of production in Europe.
“
One of the bottlenecks concerns synthetic molecules (...) Vaccines contain up to 400 ingredients, production involves up to 100 companies.
We have created a working group to boost production (...) with the objective of identifying problems and solving them,
”Ms. von der Leyen said.
At the same time as this “working
group
” placed under the aegis of Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, Brussels will launch, within the framework of a new agency (HERA), a public-private program associating the pharmaceutical industry and research organizations to prepare for next health crises.
“
The battle against the virus is not a sprint, it is a marathon, which requires endurance and tenacity.
We must anticipate immediately (...) by launching our preparedness plan against the new variants
”, by strengthening“
rapid sequencing
”and“
systematic sharing
”of data, she underlined.
Read also: In Germany, Ursula von der Leyen did not leave good memories
Speaking at a plenary session of the European Parliament, the President of the Commission expressed her "
regrets
" after the controversial episode which saw Brussels backtrack on the inclusion of Northern Ireland in its vaccine export control mechanism, which won it the wrath of Belfast, Dublin and London.
“
Mistakes were made in the process leading up to the decision and I deeply regret it.
But in the end we did the right thing, and I can assure you that my Commission will do its best to preserve the peace in Northern Ireland,
”she said.
