European Union did not renew deal with AstraZeneca

• The European Union (EU) has not renewed their contract with AstraZeneca, which expires in June.
• A rare nerve-degenerating disorder was reportedly found in people who received AstraZeneca vaccines, aside from the very rare blood clotting cases.
• The EU has instead turned to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines despite the higher costs.

European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has confirmed the decision of the European Union (EU) not to renew their deal with AstraZeneca, which expires in June. The EU has instead turned to Pfizer-BioNTech for their COVID-19 vaccines.

Last month, the Commission started legal action against AstraZeneca for failing to ensure timely deliveries of vaccines despite their contract.

Speaking to France Inter radio on Sunday, Breton did not rule out a possible renewal in the future, but confirmed that the EU “did not renew the order after June.”

Several potential side-effects of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine have been raised since its distribution, prompting most European countries to limit its use or suspend its use completely.

Following reports of very rare blood clotting cases, cases of a rare nerve-degenerating disorder have also been reported, Europe’s medicines regulator said on Friday. Despite their assurance that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks, its use has been limited across Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine is still continued in France and in other parts of Europe because vaccination “will help us get out of the crisis.”

However, he welcomed the move towards “more effective” vaccines, especially in the near future, “in order to respond in particular to variants.”

The EU is now turning to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, despite the expected higher costs.

Breton said that the higher costs are justified by the additional research and potential changes to industrial equipment needed to create the second-generation vaccines.

The European Commission confirmed on Friday that the EU has signed a new contract for 2021-2023 to receive 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. This covers donations, booster shots, and reselling of doses.

Source: Reuters