AstraZeneca: Why America Won’t Sell a Vaccine

In the US, about 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are reported to be stored unused in refrigerators, although it has not yet been approved. Rather than export the vaccine, the Biden administration wants to be prepared.

Apparently 30 million doses of AstraZeneca’s corona vaccine are stored in American refrigerators, although the vaccine is not approved here at all. Why not just export it to where the vaccine is urgently needed? In Europe, for example, government spokeswoman Jen Psaki is asked. “We want to make sure that we have maximum flexibility, that we are over-equipped and ready.”

Arthur Landwehr
ARD-Studio Washington

AstraZeneca will likely be approved in the next few weeks, then the company should be able to deliver same day as well. The US government defends itself against accusations that it would prevent manufacturers from delivering promised vaccines to Europe by stopping exports. There is no export ban. Vaccine in the refrigerator belongs to the USA, it has been bought and paid for, not just given away. That has nothing to do with the export ban.

Any company can cooperate with any country and make a deal for the supply of vaccination doses.

A condition for companies

The only condition: contracts with the United States government should be fulfilled. After all, unlike Europeans, the US entered into supply contracts at an early stage and the War Production Act allowed companies to make and fill vaccines. “There is a contractual obligation to deliver the US vaccination doses and to comply with this contract.”

But then they could deliver as much around the world as they wanted. The fact that people stick to the AstraZeneca vaccine also has to do with Joe Biden’s promise to systematically fight Corona and restore normal daily life by the summer. “We want to have the opportunity to vaccinate the American public with the most effective substances.”

Normality until July 4

This also means that you must be prepared to deal with mutations in the virus and be able to quickly switch to another vaccine if necessary.

There should be enough vaccines available for all adults in the US by the end of May, and Joe Biden has promised to celebrate the national holiday again on July 4.