BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is not interested in buying possible COVID-19 vaccines through an initiative co-led by the World Health Organization, as it considers it to be slow and high-cost, two EU sources told Reuters, noting that the bloc was in talks with drug makers for vaccines cheaper than $ 40.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds a small bottle labeled “COVID-19 Vaccine” and a medical syringe in this illustration taken on April 10, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration / File Photo
The position shows that the EU has only taken a global approach in the race for COVID-19 vaccines, as, while one of the main supporters of initiatives for equitable access worldwide, it prefers to prioritize supplies for the population of the EU.
It could also deal a blow to the WHO-led COVAX initiative to secure vaccines for all.
“The use of COVAX would lead to higher prices and subsequent supplies,” said one of the two officials.
The COVAX mechanism aimed at buying vaccines in advance targets a price of $ 40 for COVID vaccines for rich countries, the official said, adding that the EU could buy at cheaper prices with its own scheme for initial purchases.
A spokeswoman for GAVI, a public-private vaccine alliance that also co-chairs the COVAX initiative, declined to comment on the $ 40 target, saying that at this stage it was impossible to predict the exact price of future doses.
“Any pricing structure should reflect (the) investments at risk in R&D and manufacturing needed, as well as meet expectations that eventual vaccines will be available during the acute phase of the pandemic as a global good,” he said.
The WHO did not immediately comment.
On Wednesday, Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNtech (22UAy.F) said the US government had agreed to pay nearly $ 2 billion to insure its potential COVID-19 vaccine, which, if successful, would be used to vaccinate 50 million people at a price of about $ 40 per person.
The EU is currently in talks with several drug manufacturers to secure their possible coronavirus vaccines in advance, officials told Reuters last week.
These potential deals would be financed with around 2 billion euros ($ 2.3 billion) from an EU rainy day fund known as the Emergency Support Instrument (ESI), authorities said.
The EU also wants to ensure vaccines by the end of the year, if they become available. This schedule “is not feasible” for COVAX, an official said.
PARALLEL TRACKS
The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the bloc and leads the EU talks with drug manufacturers, has advised EU states to join COVAX if they wish, but not to buy vaccines, the official said. . A Commission spokesman declined to comment.
An official said joining the two initiatives may not be legally feasible, as EU states have accepted an exclusivity clause when they endorsed the EU’s advance purchase plan.
Some EU states have expressed interest in joining COVAX but have not yet registered.
The EU has been a strong advocate of global initiatives to guarantee vaccines for all. It has promoted two global fundraising campaigns that have so far raised nearly $ 19 billion, of which three-quarters come from EU states and institutions, to help develop COVID-19 vaccines and ensure equitable access.
However, baffled by the movements of the United States to secure possible vaccines and medicines, the EU has recently taken a firmer role in the global race.
If COVID-19 vaccines are effective in trials, they are unlikely to be readily available in large quantities. Buying them for the EU population could temporarily deprive the poorest countries of the doses.
However, the official said that the two ways to buy vaccines were still complementary, but added that “budgets are limited.”
Report by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Additional reports from Kate Kelland in London; Frances Kerry and Hugh Lawson edition
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