EU-Astra Step Back Amid Criticism of 'Vaccine Nationalism'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The European Union (EU) and AstraZeneca, which had been in conflict over COVID-19 vaccine supply, have each taken a step back. The EU decided to lift restrictions on vaccine exports to the UK, and AstraZeneca agreed to supply an additional 9 million doses.

On the 31st (local time), Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced on Twitter, "AstraZeneca has agreed to supply an additional 9 million doses of the vaccine and to advance the delivery schedule by one week." She added, "We will also expand production facilities within Europe."

With this, the EU secured a total of 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the first quarter of this year. Although this is about 50% of the originally contracted amount (80 million doses), it is interpreted as a response to strong criticism from the international community, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

The conflict began when AstraZeneca, headquartered in the UK, suddenly notified that it would reduce the EU's first-quarter supply by 60%, while assuring that 2 million doses would be delivered to the UK within a week without disruption.

The EU raised suspicions that AstraZeneca was delaying supply to prioritize the UK and even pulled out the "ban on vaccine exports produced in Europe" card. The EU also raided AstraZeneca's factory in Belgium to verify the shortage, drawing criticism of "vaccine nationalism."

Conversely, the UK government, which was reportedly considering measures to block vaccine exports to the EU, emphasized on the same day that there was no need to worry about vaccine shortages now that the EU had stepped back. Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, said in an interview with local media such as the BBC, "We have received written assurances that there will be no disruption to the COVID-19 vaccine supply contract from the EU."

Truss explained that since Ursula von der Leyen pledged this during a phone call with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, there should be no problem with vaccines produced by Pfizer and BioNTech within the EU entering the UK. She said, "We will have enough vaccines to complete vaccination for the entire UK population and still help other countries."

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The European Commission's move to even consider a 'vaccine export ban' is analyzed as a self-inflicted mistake made in an attempt to avoid responsibility for the shortage. The Commission receives vaccines for all member states at once and distributes them, but as supplies fell short, some member states experienced vaccination halts, causing a vaccine crisis. Because of this, the vaccination rate is significantly lower than in the UK or the US. According to the international statistics site 'Our World in Data,' as of the 28th, the number of vaccine doses administered per 100 people was 2.35 in Europe, compared to 12.33 in the UK and 7.91 in the US.

Ursula von der Leyen described the resolution of the conflict with AstraZeneca as "a step forward regarding vaccines." In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, seemingly aware of criticism over the shortage, she said, "The new supply has increased by 30% compared to before," and added, "Our goal to vaccinate 70% of adults in Europe by late summer remains unchanged."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.