Covid vaccine. The European Union denounced AstraZeneca for the delay in the delivery of doses

The European Union (EU) denounced formally this Wednesday to the pharmacist AstraZeneca for him delay in delivery of vaccines against coronavirus.” class=”com-link” data-reactroot=””>vaccines against coronavirus. He accused the company of violating the contract for the purchase of immunizers signed with the block and of not having made sufficient efforts to guarantee the delivery of the doses.

The lawyers of the EU and AstraZeneca appeared this Wednesday, May 26 in the morning before a judge of provisional measures in the French-speaking court of first instance in Brussels, in which it was the first chapter of the legal battle between the parties over the delays in the distribution of vaccines.

As officially reported, the pharmaceutical company provided in the first quarter only 30 million of the 120 million doses which it was contractually bound to supply. Meanwhile, for the second quarter it plans to deliver just 70 million of the 180 million units initially promised.

The European Commission announced at the end of April that it had appealed to the Justice to demand the shipment of the immunizers agreed in the contract signed with AstraZeneca, which expires mid-June. If this calendar is not fulfilled, the member countries will demand that the company pay the fines corresponding.

Rafael Jafferali, one of the Commission’s lawyers, argued that for several weeks an AstraZenca factory in the Netherlands supplied doses to markets other than the EU. “Total, 50 million units were diverted towards third countries in flagrant violation of the contract, ”he accused.

In addition, the Europeans reproach the pharmaceutical laboratory -associated with the University of Oxford in the preparation of the vaccine- not having used its two UK plants for deliveries to the EU, mentioned in the contract.

For the EU, AstraZeneca privileged the supply of doses to the United Kingdom to the detriment of its obligations to the block. He also accuses it of having committed European resources for the development of the vaccine and the expansion of the laboratory’s industrial capacities.

Weeks ago, AstaZeneca issued a statement in which it also acknowledged the delay in vaccine delivery in Latin America “Despite working tirelessly to speed up supply.” The pharmaceutical company argued that the first batches had lower process yields anticipated and noted that he had limited access to critical inputs for the development of the immunizer.

After regretting the delay in shipments, the laboratory undertook to start the provision of 150 million dose in the region during the first semester of 2021.

In this context, the Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, confirmed on Tuesday theshipment of 4 million units this week to Argentina.” class=”com-link” data-reactroot=””>shipment of 4 million units this week to Argentina. Part of this shipment arrived in the country this morning, with the arrival of a consignment of 657,600 doses provided by the COVAX mechanism.

With information from AFP.

THE NATION

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