Italy restricts AstraZeneca vaccine exports... Vaccination delays raise EU 'protectionism' concerns

Italy Limits Export of 250,000 Doses of Domestically Produced AstraZeneca Vaccine
WHO: "EU Vaccine Protectionism Negatively Impacts Global Vaccine Supply Chain"

Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Italy has restricted the export of some AstraZeneca vaccines produced domestically. There is speculation that the European Union (EU), which is lagging behind its vaccination targets, is beginning to show 'vaccine protectionism.'

According to The Guardian on the 4th (local time), Italy decided not to export 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines that were scheduled for export to Australia on the same day. This is the first export restriction measure since the EU implemented the 'transparency' system in January, which requires EU approval for the export of COVID-19 vaccines produced within member countries to outside the EU. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that "due to delays in the supply of AstraZeneca vaccines in the EU and Italy, this decision was made."

According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian government notified the EU in advance about the export restriction policy, The Guardian reported. This is interpreted as the EU effectively approving Italy's vaccine export restriction.

As a result, there is analysis that the EU, which has recently been slow in vaccination, is strengthening 'vaccine protectionism.' According to Bloomberg News, currently only 8% of the EU member states' population has been vaccinated, which is significantly behind the vaccination rates of the United States (24.3%) and the United Kingdom (32.3%).

Previously, the EU had conflicts with AstraZeneca over vaccine supply. When AstraZeneca unilaterally notified the EU of a 60% reduction in vaccine supply for the first quarter, the EU implemented the transparency measure that allows restricting exports of vaccines produced domestically.

Afterwards, the EU announced that it would supply more than 9 million doses after negotiations with AstraZeneca, but the total supply still falls short of half of the initially contracted amount. In Italy's case, The Guardian reported that as of last week, the supply was about 15% less than originally planned.

In response, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi recently stated at an EU summit that "the EU should enforce export restrictions more actively." Another EU diplomat told The Guardian in an interview, "AstraZeneca must respect its contract with the EU," adding, "AstraZeneca is still supplying 60 million fewer doses than originally planned for the first quarter."

Concerns are rising that the global COVID-19 vaccine supply chain could be impacted as the first export restriction measure has been implemented following the EU's transparency system to address supply delays. Franz Werner Haas, CEO of German pharmaceutical company CureVac, pointed out, "Due to the EU's export restrictions, there is a risk that vaccine samples for clinical trials may not be supplied," adding, "This will also affect global vaccine development efforts."

The World Health Organization (WHO) also criticized, saying, "The EU's transparency system shows vaccine protectionism and will have adverse effects worldwide," and "At a time when rapid vaccination of all countries globally is crucial, the EU is becoming a stumbling block."

Meanwhile, within EU member countries, vaccine production facilities for AstraZeneca, Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer are located.

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