Claims AstraZeneca In Court, European Union Orders 1.8 Billion Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine From Pfizer

JAKARTA - The European Union has decided to divert their supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, from the AstraZeneca vaccine to the Pfizer/BioNTech alert vaccine.

This step was taken in line with the commencement of the European Union's lawsuit against AstraZeneca, regarding the fulfillment of the vaccine supply agreement that began last Wednesday.

Although not yet finalized in an official contract, this agreement is the largest single agreement for the procurement of a COVID-19 vaccine in the world, reaching 1.8 billion doses of vaccine, with deliveries scheduled until 2023.

The previous announcement of the purchase was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to the Pfizer manufacturing plant in Puurs, Belgium, last Friday.

The deal was announced as pressure mounted on developed countries to stop buying more doses than their populations needed to ensure sufficient quantities for the rest of the world.

A note on negotiations published by the New York Times, based on interviews with von der Leyen, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and other experts and officials, paints a picture of personal diplomacy between Pfizer and EU leaders.

This was related to the months of communication, until finally Pfizer was trusted to have a much larger order for the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the 300 million agreed by the European Union with AstraZeneca previously.

"Many world leaders, they will contact me, from the president or prime minister and king, and the general secretary of the organization", Bourla told the New York Times, as reported by CNN Thursday, April 29.

Meanwhile, Von der Leyen described the difficulties he faced as a leader, as it became clear that AstraZeneca would not achieve its targets.

"I knew the increase in shipments would start slowly at first, and because of that, I also knew the first quarter would be difficult. But I didn't expect it to be that strong, because we did not include the possibility that AstraZeneca would reduce shipments by 75 percent. severe setback", said Von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen said that the Pfizer deal would include 900 million initial doses with an additional 900 million options, according to a New York Times report. The European Commission did not immediately confirm the details to CNN.

"(The contract) will secure the doses needed to provide booster shots to increase our immunity to the virus. It will provide vaccines tailored to avoid variants that no longer respond to vaccines. And it should allow us to vaccinate, if necessary, and safe for children. children and adolescents. And it will consolidate European leadership in mRNA technology", said Von der Leyen.

For your information, the European Commission on Monday announced a lawsuit against AstraZeneca, over alleged breaches of its vaccine supply contract, in the escalation of months of dispute over delayed deliveries that prevented the launch of shots across much of the continent.

27 European Union countries have ordered 300 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca for delivery by the end of June, with an option to purchase an additional 100 million.

But vaccine deliveries have repeatedly failed millions of doses. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it would deliver 100 million doses by the end of June, a third of what was originally stipulated in its contract with the block.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing AstraZeneca, Hakim Boularbah, said, "The only statement I can make is, AstraZeneca deeply regrets the European Commission's decision to take this action to the court. They hope the dispute can be resolved soon", he said.