Brussels, 18 Nov. The European Commission on Friday signed a framework contract with Danish biotech Bavarian Nordic for the joint purchase of two million doses of the monkeypox vaccine, with the first deliveries expected from 2023.
The Commission’s Health Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) today signed the joint procurement contract as part of an agreement which provides for the possibility for the 14 participating countries to acquire doses “to meet their medium and long-term needs, and to stockpile” monkeypox vaccines.
The first deliveries under this agreement will start in the second quarter of 2023, said the Commission, which stressed that it was “remaining focused on preventing monkeypox from becoming endemic in Europe”.
In addition to this contract, HERA and the European Executive Agency for Health and Digital (HaDEA) have worked in recent months on the purchase of more than 334,000 doses of vaccines to cover the immediate needs of Member States, using EU funds . ).
This also adds to the acquisition of more than 10,000 doses of tecovirimat, a treatment for monkeypox.
The EU Joint Bargaining Mechanism is part of an agreement signed by 36 countries and allows for the procurement of medicines as an alternative or complement to the countries’ own purchase at national level.
When at least four of these 36 countries are interested in jointly purchasing a medicine, HERA can start the procurement process. EFE extension
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