After nine days of discussions, reproaches, pressure and threats, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical AstraZeneca has promised to
supply up to 40 million doses of its vaccine against Covid19
in the first quarter of the year.
The amount is far from the 100 million negotiated in summer and the 80 that was set as a goal at the end of last year, but it represents an
increase of nine million doses after the surprise
and unilateral announcement of the past day 22 that the calendar and total deliveries would be cut very notably (to 31 million) due to a problem at its plant in Belgium.
This was advanced this afternoon by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in a message on her Twitter account.
"A step forward in vaccines.
AstraZeneca will deliver nine million doses in the first quarter
of this year (up to a total of 40 million) compared to last week's supply. And delivery will begin a week earlier than expected. The company will also increase its production capacity in Europe, "German policy has indicated.
There are no details on whether those nine million
will come solely from redoubling efforts on the continent
or if there will also be deliveries from the two plants in the United Kingdom, as Brussels has claimed in recent days, enforcing some of the articles of the contract between both parties. published on Friday (although not in its entirety).
The pressure on your office is highest in recent days.
Many in Europe blame their team for the delays, indicating that the signing of the contracts with the pharmaceutical companies took too long and that because of the search for a lower price
there are now supply problems
.
There is also very strong criticism in London, Dublin and within the Commission itself for tremendous errors, such as the one committed last Friday with the announcement of a mechanism for export control, which will ultimately allow all states to the EU to veto the shipments of vaccines produced in the Union.
The mechanism
had the support of national governments
, but included the activation of an article, 16, of the Protocol on Northern Ireland to the Brexit agreement.
And that not everyone knew.
The mention responded to the desire to guarantee that
vaccines could not leave from the EU to the United Kingdom through Northern Ireland
, which due to Brexit now has a special status.
The decision was made in the cabinet of President Von der Leyen and leading Brexit experts were not consulted, according to Bloomberg.
Neither, for example, the Government of Dublin or the Irish commissioner, who today in the media in her country has charged against the decision that she considers "a mistake".
Von der Leyen, overwhelmed by the reactions, backed down on Friday night, eliminating
even the
published
draft regulations
.
But the damage to the image was done.
For AstraZeneca to commit to 40 million units is good news, but it doesn't pay.
There are still 40 million doses to go, a gigantic and vital amount for the vaccination schedules set by national and regional authorities across the continent.
It does, however, serve to alleviate a bit of pressure, both on the company (which is targeted by this export mechanism, which affects only
firms that have current contracts
with the EU and whose sales outside compromise the sealed commitments) and on the presidency, which communicated it just a couple of hours before an interview on the news in his country.
In recent weeks the president has multiplied before the German media, making important and even exclusive statements, interviews and announcements.
Generating great discomfort among the rest of the nationalities, who see how the president and her team seem to only have eyes for German citizens (and voters).
In the past, nationality has been an
important factor in exposure
.
Or the language.
Jean-Claude Juncker was interviewed weekly on German radio, media or television.
But in times of deep crisis, like the one experienced this week, he tried to broaden the radar.
The talks between Brussels and the company are still open, trying to find a more satisfactory solution as soon as possible.
They do not want an escalation or end up in court, especially when there are
between 300 and 400 million doses pending.
The President of the Commission herself, accompanied by Commissioners Kyriakides and Thierry Breton, as well as the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency, held a teleconference this Sunday with the heads of BionNTech / Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson , Curevac u Sanofi
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