Covid-19: United States blocks export of unused doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

European countries are facing successive vaccine distribution problems.

Here, a vial of AstraZeneca serum, in Vigo, Spain, March 13, 2021. AFP - MIGUEL RIOPA

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

While the vaccination campaign in Europe is struggling to accelerate, in particular because of delays in delivery from laboratories, the United States would be in possession of tens of millions of unused doses of the vaccine from the AstraZeneca laboratory.

Despite European requests, Washington refuses for the moment to sell part of this vaccine stock… which has not yet been validated by the American health authorities.

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With our correspondent in New York,

Loubna Anaki

According to the

New York Times

, at least 30 million

doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine

are currently stored in

a factory of the Anglo-Swedish laboratory in Ohio

.

In Maryland, another factory is said to have already produced enough to manufacture tens of millions of additional doses.

A valuable stock that the United States does not use right away, as the product has not yet received validation from the country's health authorities.

Faced with

strong demand in Europe where its vaccine is authorized

, AstraZeneca asked Washington to be able to export at least part of its doses to Europe.

Several

European governments

have made the same request.

Request denied at this time.

Also according to the American press, the fate of these vaccines is the subject of a lively debate in the White House.

Some believe that it is indeed necessary to help European countries, but also

Brazil, which has been hit hard.

Others oppose it.

Asked this week about sharing vaccines, Joe Biden replied that the United States would come to the aid of other countries ... but only when it was sure that

all Americans could be vaccinated.

►

 See also: Covid-19: the management of vaccines, a source of tension in Europe

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  • United States

  • Coronavirus

  • Vaccines

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