Pharmacist Minhal Master (R) administers a dose of AstraZeneca / Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at a temporary vaccination center, equipped with pharmacists and assistant pharmacists, at the Al-Abbas Islamic Center in Birmingham, West Midlands, on February 4, 2021.
Scarff Oils | AFP | Getty Images
The European Union will urge the United States to allow the export of millions of doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as it struggles to address supply shortfalls, the Financial Times reported.
The EU, with 27 nations, also wants Washington to ensure the free flow of shipments of essential vaccine ingredients needed in European production, the FT report said on Saturday.
“We are confident that we can work with the United States to ensure that vaccines produced or bottled in the United States to meet the contractual obligations of vaccine manufacturers with the EU will be fully honored,” the FT was quoted as saying by the European Commission.
EU countries started vaccinations at the end of December, but they are moving at a much slower pace than other rich nations, including former member Britain and the United States.
Officials blame slow progress, in part, on supply problems with producers.
The European Commission and Italy this week blocked a shipment of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Australia after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its EU contractual commitments.
The Anglo-Swedish pharmacist was set on fire in the EU for delaying the supply of fire to the bloc of 27 nations, which ordered 300 million doses by the end of June.
“We are working 24/7 to improve delivery and hopefully meet expectations for Q2,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot told EU lawmakers in a public hearing in February.
The EU also plans to extend its export authorization scheme for Covid-19 vaccines by the end of June, two EU sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Under the scheme, companies must obtain authorization before exporting Covid-19 photos and export applications can be rejected if they do not meet their EU supply commitments.
The European Commission and AstraZeneca were not immediately available for comment.