The EU signs a joint procurement agreement with the Spanish company HIPRA for COVID vaccines

BRUSSELS, Aug 2 (Reuters) – The European Commission said on Tuesday it had signed a joint procurement contract with Spanish pharmaceutical firm HIPRA for the supply of its COVID-19 protein vaccine, which will be available if the European Medicines Agency (EMA) ) approves.

The European Union executive said in a statement that 14 countries participate in the agreement, under which they can purchase up to 250 million doses.

“With the increase in COVID-19 infections in Europe, we have to ensure maximum preparation for the autumn and winter months,” European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides said in the statement.

“HIPRA’s vaccine adds one more option to complement our extensive portfolio of vaccines for our member states and citizens,” he said, adding that increased vaccination and booster vaccination would be essential in the coming months.

The HIPRA bivalent recombinant protein vaccine, which is currently under continuous review by the EMA, is being developed as a booster dose in previously immunized people aged 16 years and older.

(Reporting by John Chalmers, edition by Marine Strauss, translated by José Muñoz in the Gdańsk newsroom)

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