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The European Commission has signed a contract with the company Bavarian Nordic for the purchase of nearly 110,000 vaccines that Member States can use in the fight against monkey pox. European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides announced this on Tuesday at a meeting of European health ministers.
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jvhBron: BELGIAN
Today at 13:28–
Bavarian Nordic’s vaccines are third-generation vaccines that initially protect adults against smallpox, but they also provide protection against the related monkeypox. A number of Member States have already authorized the temporary use of the vaccine in the fight against monkeypox virus.
The aim is to deliver the first doses by the end of June. Belgium has also subscribed to the purchase. At the end of last month, the federal government gave the green light for the purchase of 1,250 doses, good for the treatment of 625 people. In Belgium, 34 cases are now known, 17 of which are in Flanders. There are about 900 cases across the European Union.
Since the corona crisis, health policy at European level has become much more concrete. For example, the joint purchase of vaccines against monkey pox is being made for the first time with money from the new EU4Health health programme. The new health authority HERA will distribute the vaccines among the member states.
“With this agreement, we ensure that Member States have access to much-needed vaccines to protect people who have been exposed to monkeypox. This is a tangible demonstration of our enhanced capabilities to respond quickly to health crises,” said Kyriakides.
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