EU Swept Up by Pfizer... No Extension for AZ Contract

"Won't Extend Supply Contract After June"
One Day After Pfizer Announces Supply Contract

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The European Union (EU) announced that it will not extend the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine supply contract, which expires next month. This announcement came just one day after signing a so-called 'sweep' contract with Pfizer for 1.8 billion doses.

According to Germany's DPA news agency on the 9th (local time), Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, stated on French radio that "the EU Commission has not extended the supply contract with AZ beyond June."

Commissioner Breton added, "Since AZ is a good vaccine, the deal with them is not completely closed," and said, "Let's see what happens."

Instead of continuing the contract, both parties are expected to engage in legal disputes over supply delays. The EU Commission initiated legal action at the end of last month on behalf of the 27 member states, claiming that AZ did not fulfill the supply contract.

The EU originally ordered 300 million doses from AZ, but AZ supplied only 25% (30 million doses) of the promised 120 million doses in the first quarter. For the second quarter, AZ was supposed to supply 180 million doses but is expected to deliver less than half, around 70 million doses.

The EU believes that AZ is not fulfilling the vaccine supply contract as agreed. On the other hand, AZ maintains that the obligations claimed by the EU side are not legally binding.

Concerns over blood clot side effects from the AZ vaccine, which led some member states to suspend vaccinations or limit them to certain age groups, also appear to have had an impact.

The EU Commission has set a goal to complete vaccinations for at least 70% of the adult population by this summer. The EU is also exploring measures for securing booster shots, responding to new variant viruses, and vaccinating children and adolescents.

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