Vaccine supply delay conflict… EU “may block exports to third countries”
[앵커]
As the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine is delayed, the European Union is putting more pressure on pharmaceutical companies.
The European Union has even brought up measures to notify the European Union, especially if pharmaceutical companies export to third countries, while in the worst case, it can prevent the export itself.
This is reporter Lee Bong-seok.
[기자]
The European Union and EU are increasing pressure on pharmaceutical companies to delay vaccine supply.
The European Union’s executive committee said it was unacceptable to AstraZeneca’s announcement of a delay in supply and would take whatever action is needed.
As one of the concrete measures, a’transparency system’ was introduced to inform pharmaceutical companies in advance when exporting vaccines to third countries.
“In the future, all companies producing COVID-19 vaccines in the European Union will need to give advance notice whenever they wish to export the vaccine to a third country.”
Furthermore, the British Guardian reported that it even launched an ultra-heavy storm of blocking exports to countries outside the European Union.
This seems to reflect the perception that countries that do not have collective purchase agreements are intercepting vaccines by paying more than individually.
Despite funding for development, vaccinations have lagged behind Israel, as well as Britain, which left the European Union, and the EU leadership has been heavily criticized by 27 member states.
“European Commissioner Urzula von der Laien made it clear this morning by phone call, CEO Pascal Sorio AstraZeneca, that he expects to fulfill the terms of the pre-purchase agreement.”
Earlier, it was reported that AstraZeneca could only supply 31 million doses to the European Union in the first quarter due to production disruptions, which is less than half the contract, and the initial supply of Pfizer vaccine is expected to decrease.
AstraZeneca and Pfizer have vaccine production facilities in Belgium.
This is Yonhap News Lee Bong-seok.
Yonhap News TV article inquiries and reports: katok/line jebo23
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