AstraZeneca Vaccine: US deliveries to the EU are not expected soon

Washington has told the European Union that it should not expect it to soon receive AstraZeneca vaccines Made in the USA, according to two European sources, cited by Reuters.

The US message could complicate immunization plans in the Union, which has been facing delays in deliveries by pharmaceutical companies since January.

“The United States has told us that there is no way they can send AstraZeneca vaccines in the EU “, said a high-ranking official who is directly involved in the talks between the two sides.

Earlier this year, the British-Swedish company told the EU that it would cut its deliveries by at least half in the second quarter, ie less than 90 million installments, after the first reduction in the first quarter of the year. Subsequently, however, AstraZeneca offered to partially close the gap with vaccines produced outside the European Union, including in the USA.

A senior European diplomat said the European Union had told member diplomats at Wednesday’s meeting that Brussels should not wait for vaccine exports from the United States “at this time”.

“Basically, the situation is such that any exports are difficult, as there is a willingness to talk,” the source added.

AstraZeneca declined to comment on this information. The White House also had no comment to make.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. It is unclear whether AstraZeneca produces a sufficient number of vaccines in the US or whether the US will impose restrictive measures on the market. The company’s vaccine has not yet been approved for use in the United States.

Austria suspended vaccinations with a batch of AstraZeneca vaccines, until it investigated a death from a blood clotting disorder and a pulmonary embolism suffered by a vaccinated person.

Asked about talks with the United States, European Commission spokesman Eric Mammer said today: “Whatever the legal situation in the United States, we want to work with the United States to keep supply chains open. We are not going to give a detailed report of our discussions with the American partners “.

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said his government would give Covid-19 vaccines to Americans first, but would share any surplus with the rest of the world. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke by telephone with Biden last week, followed by a meeting between Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton and White House’s pandemic coordinator Jeffrey Zinz. In all these cases, the issue of vaccines was discussed, according to EU announcements. An official said talks on vaccines were continuing and new telephone communications were expected between the two sides this week.

AstraZeneca has also told the EU that it could deliver additional doses from India, where its vaccines are made by the Serum Institute. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that European drug regulators were currently inspecting the Serum plant.

The US is also part of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine production network, because under the company’s contract with the EU, doses produced in the Netherlands will have to be bottled in the US. European sources who spoke to Reuters made no mention of any obstacles the United States would put in sending the vaccines to the EU, but many European diplomats have expressed concern. The agency reported on Tuesday that J&J told the EU it was dealing with delivery issues that could complicate its plans to send 55 million doses of its vaccine to the Union in the second quarter of the year.

J&J plans to start supplying the EU in April. The vaccine received the “green light” earlier today from the Commission, following a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency.