The AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is definitely not attracting the same interest as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the European Commission (see EUROPE 12701/9). The institution did not activate the option to purchase the additional 100 million doses it could have benefited from under the contract signed with the Swedish-British pharmaceutical group.
“The deadline for activating the option has passed”, a Commission spokesperson told the press on Thursday 22 April.
This deadline has not yet expired with Johnson & Johnson, he said, but did not elaborate on the Commission’s intentions with regard to this other vaccine, which is only now being rolled out in the EU (see EUROPE 12702/1).
Because the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have caused a few patients to develop atypical blood clots, Member States are being cautious: a dozen of them have decided to restrict the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, each according to their own rules.
New EMA analyses
In order to return to a more coherent EU-wide approach, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has again asked the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to provide analyses of the Swedish-UK vaccine (see EUROPE 12694/2).
“I expect to receive these analyses tomorrow”, the commissioner repeatedly told the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on Thursday.
Kyriakides expects the analysis to “better characterise” the risks of the AstraZeneca vaccine across different age groups, gender groups and any other factors that may be identified.
In addition, it will ask the EMA for recommendations on the procedure to be followed for the injection of the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. “The aim is then to consult all the health ministers, still under the Portuguese Presidency, in order to have a coherent approach”, she added.
Conflict resolution
The Anglo-Swedish company is, however, still struggling to deliver its doses: 70 million is expected to arrive in the second quarter. This is “fewer than we expected”, commented Kyriakides. 180 million doses were initially announced.
The dispute resolution procedure initiated at the end of March with AstraZeneca regarding the non-fulfilment of its delivery commitments is still ongoing (see EUROPE 12681/2). According to information obtained by Politico, the Commission is preparing to take the next step by initiating legal proceedings against the manufacturer.
The majority of EU countries were reportedly in favour at a meeting of their ambassadors on Wednesday. “No decision has yet been taken”, the Commission’s health spokesman said on Thursday. “Whatever measures are taken, they will be taken jointly by the Commission and the Member States”, he insisted.
Restoring trust
To further accelerate the vaccination campaign, communication efforts will also be needed, insisted MEPs on the ENVI Committee on Thursday.
“It is important that the Commission acts to convince citizens. We need targeted campaigns”, stressed EPP coordinator Peter Liese from Germany, stressing in particular the importance of ensuring that information campaigns on vaccination also reach “those who do not speak the language”, for example.
Sara Cerdas (S&D, Portugal), for her part, denounced a lack of clarity, regretting that the information given by the institutions was “sometimes very contradictory”.
Several MEPs asked Stella Kyriakides what measures the Commission would take to restore confidence in vaccines.
“We are working on this issue in close collaboration with a platform of epidemiologists”, she briefly replied, insisting however on the “very important” role of MEPs in disseminating information and promoting vaccination at local level. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)