Brussels (AFP)

The European Commission announced Thursday that it had reserved 225 million doses of the potential Covid-19 vaccine from the German CureVac, the fourth agreement of this type found by the EU with laboratories.

Discussions with CureVac should result in an early purchase contract, the EU executive said in a statement.

The envisaged contract "would allow all EU member states to buy the vaccine and also to donate to low and middle income countries or to transfer it back to European countries," he said.

The initial purchase would be 225 million doses on behalf of EU member states, once the efficacy and safety of a vaccine has been demonstrated.

Brussels has already reserved 300 million of the vaccine in preparation for the French Sanofi, and 400 million for that of the American Johnson & Johnson.

On August 14, the Commission also signed an advance purchase contract with the Swedish-British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca for 300 million doses, with an option for 100 million additional doses.

"The European Commission is keeping its promise to ensure that Europeans and the world have rapid access to a safe vaccine that protects us against the coronavirus. Each round of negotiations we conclude with the pharmaceutical industry brings us closer to victory against this virus" , welcomed the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, quoted in the press release Thursday.

© 2020 AFP