In an Italian plant: millions of doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are discovered

In Italy, officials have found around 29 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that were destined for export to the UK. The amount corresponds to roughly double the previous deliveries to the EU.

Around 29 million doses of vaccines from the manufacturer AstraZeneca have been discovered near Rome, according to Italian media reports. According to this, representatives of the authorities found the vaccine during an inspection of the plant of the Italian company Catalent in Anagni. The vaccination doses were stored there in the company’s cooling systems, he said. The EU Commission confirmed the finding.

Jörg Seisselberg
ARD-Studio Rom

Catalent produces the corona vaccine on behalf of AstraZeneca. In this case, however, they are said to be vaccination doses that had previously been produced in the Netherlands and filled in Italy. According to a report by the Italian newspaper “La Stampa”, the inspection in the buildings of the pharmaceutical company was carried out on the basis of the indications of the EU Commission. Authorities suspect the vaccine was destined for export to the UK.

EU Commission discusses with AstraZeneca

Brussels has been in dispute with AstraZeneca for a long time. The Commission criticizes the British-Swedish company for failing to fulfill its obligations to supply vaccines to the EU.

Among other things, due to the lack of vaccination doses against AstraZeneca, there have been delays in the vaccination campaign in several EU countries. The number of vaccine doses now in Italy is roughly double the amount AstraZeneca has delivered to the European Union so far.