European Nations–Among The Most Vaccine-Skeptical In The World–Are Hitting Key Inoculation Targets forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Reuters Staff
1 Min Read
BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - Hungary is the only European Union country that has decided to opt out of a new vaccine deal the bloc has signed with Pfizer and BioNTech for the supply of up to 1.8 billion doses of their COVID-19 jab, an EU spokesman said.
“Hungary opted out of the Pfizer deal,” the spokesman said on Thursday.
The Commission on Thursday confirmed the new deal with the two companies, the third signed with them, for the possible purchase of up to 1.8 billion doses until 2023 following 600 million doses ordered under two previous contracts. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; editing by Jason Neely)
By Francesco Guarascio
(adds details on Pfizer global output)
PUURS, Belgium, April 23 (Reuters) - The European Commission said it expects to seal the world’s biggest vaccine supply deal within days, securing up to 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for the next few years as a debate rages over unfair access to shots for the world’s poorest people.
The vaccines from the U.S. drugmaker and its German partner BioNTech would be delivered over 2021-2023, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a visit to Pfizer’s vaccine plant in Puurs, Belgium.
The agreement, which is to include 900 million optional doses, would be enough to inoculate the 450 million EU population for two years and comes as the bloc seeks to shore up long-term supplies.
No decision on whether EU may seek new AZ, J&J contracts EU betting on mRNA vaccines, in talks for Pfizer mega-deal
BRUSSELS, April 21 (Reuters) - The European Union won’t take up an extra 300 million doses of AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines that it has secured as options under existing contracts, a senior EU official told Reuters.
The decision is the latest sign Brussels is looking to distance itself from AstraZeneca amid simmering tensions after the drugmaker slashed its delivery targets due to production problems.
It is also further evidence the bloc is sidelining vaccines that have been linked with a very rare, but potentially fatal side effect, and is confident current suppliers - led by Pfizer/BioNTech - will deliver enough doses to inoculate at least 70% of EU adults by the end of the summer.
U.S. authorities recommended pause after clot cases Belgium says won’t stop J&J shot’s rollout (adds EU spokesman)
BRUSSELS, April 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission is seeking clarification from Johnson & Johnson about the company’s “completely unexpected” announcement of delays in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the EU, an EU official told Reuters on Tuesday.
The U.S. company said it would delay rolling out the vaccine in Europe after U.S. federal health agencies recommended pausing the use of the vaccine following cases of rare blood clots in six women under 50 after they were given it.
Despite the U.S. decision, Belgium said it would not stop its rollout at this stage, while the Dutch drug regulator said benefits of the J&J vaccine outweighed possible risks, and Spain said it was not aware of any delay.