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Gives contract “there is no Without obligation toward’EU“, But only the commitment to do” our best. ” And right now not even a part of the supplies of Vaccines for COVID-19 destined to UK it can be diverted to the countries of the Union, because “the agreement with Governor Johnson has been reached three months beforeThis version was also confirmed by Downing Street sources at Telegraph. Then controversy for the announcement of a cut on the first deliveries scheduled for February, talk Pascal Soriot, CEO of the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. His version, however, is contested by Brussels, who at this point – explain to theAnsa EU sources – questions launching of the clause secret to publish the contract. In particular, the sources clarify that it is not anticipated that the production of doses for the EU should be limited to factory in Belgium, but it can happen also in the UK. And it’s now open confrontation between Brussels and AstraZeneca on the company’s participation in the meeting of Executive committee on EU vaccines, scheduled for 6.30 pm. The EU had announced the company’s involvement, but sources within AstraZeneca had denied the presence. This provoked the reaction of the EU that minutes later “insisted that AstraZeneca attend the meeting to provide all the explanations requested”, but the Commission spokesman Dana Spinant He then clarified that “AstraZeneca has informed us this morning that its participation is not confirmed and that it will not take place”, adding that the situation is evolving and therefore cannot give a definitive answer on the meeting. But in turn, the company has denied the Commission’s words, according to a note cited by Telegraph: “We will meet with the EU in one day,” said a spokesman.
Soriot, interviewed by Republic, rejects the suspicions advanced in recent days by European Comission, which fears that some doses destined for EU countries have ended up elsewhere and therefore wants to establish a transfer record vaccines outside the Union. “We certainly don’t divert vaccines from Europeans to other countries. Would illogical and counterproductive on our part, “says the 61-year-old Frenchman, who defends himself against delays:” The problems in the EU have been A case and they are certainly not intentional. ” AstraZeneca, promises its CEO, aims to “deliver to the EU 17 million doses at the end of February. Of these, 2.5 in Italy. “First, however, there is no authorization by the EMA.
“We also we are disappointed: we would like to be able to produce more. In February we will deliver a satisfactory quantity to Europe, similar to the other producers. We are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to solve problems, “says Soriot, explaining that” the production of our vaccine consists of two stages: there is one creation of the active ingredient in two factories in Belgium me Netherlands, the other is the performance of the drug, in two centers in Germany and Italy, announcement Anagni, where he is doing an amazing job. Difficulties arise in the first phase. Some sites generate more ‘harvest’, others less, as unfortunately happened in Europe. These failures occur when production increases by hundreds of millions of doses of a new vaccine. We have two months late, but we will solve these problems ”.
Even in the production of doses intended for UK there were problems: “We had some – explains Soriot – but the supply contract with the British government was signed three months before than with the EU. We had time to prepare“. Oxford, in fact, “was already in close contact with the British government: they organized in time and started to fly ”. Regarding the suspicion that the to delay It is due to the sale of the vaccine to other countries, “this accusation does not make sense – says Soriot – because, I repeat, we are not making a profit with the coronavirus vaccine.” Regarding the commitment with the EU to produce 300 million doses, states precisely that “there is no obligation with the EU. In the contract with the Europeans it is clearly written: ‘Best effort‘. That is to say: ‘We will do our best.’ Last August, the EU wanted to have the same production capacity as the UK, despite the contract signed three months after London. At AstraZeneca we responded, ‘Ok, we’ll do our best. But we cannot compromise contractually because we have three months late than the UK. ‘ So it was “.
When the Johnson government closed the contract, explains the CEO of AstraZeneca, “the British executive said that the United Kingdom had priority‘on the doses produced in your country. Ed That’s. In the agreement we signed with the EU, however, it says that European supply could also come from the UK, but it stands alone. a secondary possibility“Therefore, the European Union cannot currently count on help with its supplies:” As soon as we have a sufficient number of vaccines in the UK, we will be able to use the British establishments also for supply to the European Union. But the contract with the British was signed before, the Johnson government asked us to ‘replenish first U.S‘and this is understandable ”. “After all, the vaccine was developed in collaboration between the British government, Oxford and AstraZeneca – Soriot concludes – But as soon as the possibility exists, we will also help the EU”.
A version also confirmed by sources of Downing street quoted by Telegraph explaining that AstraZeneca’s three British manufacturing plants will also be able to supply other countries, but not before delivery to the UK of the 100 million doses provided. “This is a commercial agreement. Those doses are for us and will not go anywhere until 100 million doses are delivered in the UK, ”said the source.
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