The European Union has introduced tighter rules on exports of COVID-19 vaccines that could hit shipments to nations including Australia, amid a deepening dispute with drug manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca over supplies of potentially lifesaving shots.
Key points:
- The EU unveiled plans to tighten rules on exports of coronavirus vaccines produced inside the bloc
- The measure could be used to block shipments to many non-EU countries
- The World Health Organisation said the restrictions could harm poorer countries
The Federal Government said it would take steps to ensure Australia received the 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on order from Europe despite the imposed export controls.
Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Darren Chester told the ABC representations would be made to the World Health Organisation to ensure vaccine shipments to Australia remained on track.
“These supply shocks were not unexpected given the nature of the virus,” Mr Chester said.
“But I’ve had reassurances from colleagues and I understand Greg Hunt as minister is making all the responsible moves you need to make to ensure that supply is available to us.”
The EU unveiled its plans to tighten rules on exports of coronavirus vaccines produced inside the bloc on Friday amid fears some of the doses it secured from AstraZeneca could be diverted elsewhere.
The measure could be used to block shipments to many non-EU countries and ensure that any exporting company based in the EU will first have to submit their plans to national authorities.
A contract agreed to last year by the European Commission and the drugmaker allowed the EU’s member countries to buy 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with an option for a further 100 million doses.
It’s one of several contracts the EU’s executive branch has with vaccine makers to secure a total of more than 2 billion shots.
As part of an “advanced purchase agreement” with companies, the EU said it had invested 2.7 billion euros ($4.29 billion), including 336 million euros ($533 million) to finance the production of AstraZeneca’s serum at four factories.
The EU lashed out at the British-Swedish drugmaker this week after the company said it would only supply 31 million doses of vaccine in initial shipments, instead of the 80 million doses it had hoped to deliver.
Brussels claimed AstraZeneca would supply even less than that, just one-quarter of the doses due between January and March.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised the EU decision to impose the export controls on coronavirus vaccines produced within the bloc.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it could harm poorer countries.
“With a common crisis can nations come together in a common approach? More vaccines are being developed, approved and produced and there will be enough for everyone, but for now they’re a limited resource and we must use them as effectively and as fairly as we can,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
ABC/wires
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