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The European Union is negotiating with the Mainz-based company Biontech and its US partner Pfizer about the delivery of further vaccine doses against the coronavirus.
Three people familiar with the process told Reuters that the EU wanted to order an additional 50 to 100 million vaccine units.
The negotiations also included the option for a further 200 million vaccine doses, reported the "Spiegel" with reference to the negotiating circles.
Two people told Reuters the new drugs should ship in the third quarter.
However, the third source said it could last until the fourth quarter.
According to "Spiegel", most of the additionally negotiated vaccine doses would probably only be delivered in the second half of the year.
According to the information, the price will be the same as the 200 million cans ordered back in November.
According to a document viewed by Reuters, each dose costs 15.50 euros.
According to the manufacturer, every patient needs two doses for the vaccination to take full effect.
The EU initially declined to comment on the information.
A Pfizer spokesman simply stated that the negotiations were confidential.
In November, when no corona vaccine had yet been approved in the EU, the Commission had signed a supply contract with Biontech and Pfizer for 200 million vaccine doses with an option for 100 million more.
The vaccine was then approved as the first drug in the EU just before Christmas.
Due to production bottlenecks and logistical difficulties, the vaccination campaigns have so far only started slowly.
A spokesman for the agency defended the EU's procurement strategy on Monday.
The aim was to create the broadest possible portfolio of vaccines, since it was not yet possible to foresee which vaccine would be approved and when.
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