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It is an unprecedented precedent: with Italy, an EU member state has prevented the export of a corona vaccine to a third country for the first time. Specifically, the new government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi has banned the export of 250,000 doses of vaccines by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical AstraZeneca, which would have been delivered to Australia.
The background to this is that AstraZeneca is far from meeting its delivery obligations to the EU. At the end of January, the EU began export controls for corona vaccines. Manufacturers that do not meet their EU delivery commitments are targeted. The respective EU member state in which the vaccines destined for export were produced is responsible for export permits.
“The whole affair is not a hostile act by Italy against Australia,” Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio wrote on Facebook in support of the statement. But the delays in the distribution of vaccines in the EU are “unacceptable”, said the diplomatic chief. “And we hope that the position we have taken will have a positive impact on the vaccination campaign in the EU.”
France expressly welcomes the handover stop: “This shows that we as Europeans are capable of not being naïve and defending our interests,” European Secretary of State Clement Beaune told “RTL France” on Friday.
Australia reacted with a cold, but also shows understanding: “In Italy around 300 people die a day,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “You are in an uncontrolled crisis situation. That is not the case in Australia.” Furthermore, the Australian vaccination campaign will not be affected by the elimination of the 250,000 doses. Australia will be able to manufacture the AstraZeneca vaccine in the country at the end of March.
WHO against the “Green Passport”
The World Health Organization (WHO) rejects the vaccination passports provided by the EU Commission. The announcement announced for the summer is “probably inevitable”, said the WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge, of the newspaper “Welt” (Friday edition). “But it is not a WHO recommendation.” There are serious concerns: It is not known how long an immunity will last. Also, a vaccine “does not necessarily prevent infection.”
The EU Commission wants to present the bill for a digital “Green Passport” on March 17th.
