Reported By Italy To The European Commission, Pfizer Gets Softened

JAKARTA - COVID-19 vaccine producer, Pfizer is committed to continuing to supply vaccines to Italy, respecting its agreement with the European Commission, even though the Italian government will sue the company.

"We do not intend to speculate on this, but we will continue to supply the vaccine as planned by the agreement with the European Commission", Pfizer's Italian CEO Paivi Kerkola said in an interview with the daily la Repubblica.

Kerkola said the vaccine supplies to Italy would return to normal this week. She is also confident that she will be able to meet the supply of around 2 billion doses of vaccine by the end of the year, with an increase in production volumes seen from mid-February.

Earlier before, the Italian government on Tuesday asked the European Commission to take action against Pfizer regarding cutting down on deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine. The cuts come a day after the Italian government sent an official warning letter to honor contract commitments, following a delay in deliveries.

Last week, Pfizer said that they were temporarily slowing supply to Europe to make manufacturing changes that would increase production.

Regarding the difference in the price of vaccines applied by Pfizer in various countries, she said the matter was kept a secret.

"But companies stick to the principle of 'fair access', with high-income countries spending more, and less on low-income countries", she stressed.