The enthusiasm for the BioNtech-Pfizer vaccine continues.
Ursula von der Leyen announced on Saturday the signing of a third contract with the American group for the supply of 1.8 billion doses in 2022/2023, of which 900 million are optional.
"We are preparing the next step in our response: administering the vaccine boosters, dealing with possible variants and allowing the vaccination of children and adolescents"
, tweeted the President of the European Commission. This contract brings the total number of doses secured by the Union to 4.4 billion. The companies would still have to honor their commitments… But AstraZeneca, shunned by many Europeans, is still experiencing significant delays despite the prosecution launched by the Commission. Only 20 million doses had been delivered to the EU at the end of April while 180 million are expected in the second quarter. The lawyers of the two parties have an appointment at the Brussels court on May 26. Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said the contract with AstraZeneca had not yet been renewed after June.
"It is not yet done, wait,"
he said, because the vaccine is
"very good"
.
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EU production capacities have increased sharply, allowing vaccination campaigns to be speeded up in Member States since April.
"We are at 200 million doses per month and we should reach an annual production capacity of 3 billion at the end of the year"
, indicates the entourage of Thierry Breton.
For Europeans, production capacities, the suspension of export bans and technology transfers are the sinews of war to ensure a wider distribution of vaccines.
This is the message that the Twenty-Seven sent to Washington, during the Porto summit, after Joe Biden proposed to lift intellectual property on vaccines.
