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The nations of the European Union expressed frustration at the delay because they are desperately waiting for more doses to immunize people against the virus that has claimed nearly two million lives around the world.
Representative image. AFP
To global coronavirus
The vaccine launch suffered a major setback on Friday, as Pfizer said it would delay shipments of the jabs for the next three to four weeks due to works at its key plant in Belgium.
Pfizer said the modifications at the Puurs factory were necessary to increase its production capacity from mid-February on the vaccine developed with Germany’s BioNTech.
There will be “a significant increase” in deliveries in late February and March, the US group promised. The European Commission also confirmed that the promised doses for the first quarter will arrive within the period.
But the nations of the European Union, desperately waiting for more doses to immunize their populations against the virus that has already claimed nearly two million lives worldwide, expressed frustration.
Germany, the EU’s largest economy, lamented the “unexpected and last minute” delay.
He urged the European Commission, which made joint acquisitions for the block, to “seek clarity and certainty” for upcoming shipments.
Six northern EU countries also warned in a letter to the Commission that the “unacceptable” situation “diminishes the credibility of the vaccination process.”
The letter signed by the ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden also asked the Commission to “demand a public explanation of the situation” from pharmaceutical companies.
Across the Atlantic, Canada also said it was hit by the delays, calling it “unfortunate.”
“However, these delays and problems are to be expected when global supply chains are stretched far beyond their limits,” said Canadian procurement minister Anita Anand.
Slow
The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, which was developed at record speed, became the first to be approved for general use by a Western country on December 2, when Britain gave it the go-ahead.
After Britain launched its immunization campaign, the EU followed it from December 27.
The latest shipment delay is likely to add fuel to anger over the bloc’s vaccination campaign, which has already been criticized for being too slow compared to the United States or former EU member Britain.
The European Commission has also been accused of not getting enough doses early enough.
Last week, the EU reached an agreement to double its supply of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine to 600 million doses.
The urgency to immunize the population has grown due to fears of the variants of the virus that were first seen in South Africa and Britain, which authorities warn are more infectious.
But vaccine manufacturers had repeatedly warned that production capacity was limited.
While Pfizer is increasing capacity at Puurs, its partner BioNTech obtained authorization on Friday to start production in Germany’s Marburg.
The challenges of sourcing millions of vaccines worldwide are also daunting, as BioNTech / Pfizer jabs must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of approximately minus -94 Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) before being shipped to distribution centers in refrigerated cases. specially designed. filled with dry ice.
Once out of ultra-cold storage, the vaccine must be kept between two degrees Celsius and eight degrees Celsius to remain effective for up to five days.
