BRUSSELS (AP) – A shipment of more than a quarter of a million AstraZeneca vaccines bound for Australia was blocked from leaving the European Union on the first use of an export control system set up by the bloc to ensure that major pharmaceutical companies fulfill contracts.
The move, which affects only a small number of vaccines, underscores a growing frustration within the 27-country bloc over the slow rollout of its vaccination program and the shortage of promised vaccine deliveries, especially by Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca.
The ban was ordered by Italy, and the EU did not object to the tougher approach Rome has taken to addressing vaccine shortages in the bloc since a new government led by Mario Draghi took power on Feb. 13.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters on Friday that it had foreseen that veto problems could arise in shipments from Europe, adding that Australia’s vaccination schedule would proceed as planned.
“They are in an unbridled crisis situation. That’s not the case in Australia, ”said Morrison. “Nevertheless, we have been able to secure our supply and additional supplies for imports, both with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, which means we can continue the rollout of our program.”
Most importantly, he said, Australia also produced vaccines domestically, giving it sovereignty over its vaccination program.
Italy’s objections focused on both the general shortage of supplies in the EU and “the delays in AstraZeneca’s delivery of vaccines to the EU and Italy,” said a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It said it also intervened because of the size of the shipment, more than 250,700 doses, which would go to Australia, which it did not consider a vulnerable nation.
Italy said it informed the company on Tuesday. AstraZeneca declined to comment. The Financial Times first reported on the matter on Thursday.
Faced with a shortage of doses during the early stages of the vaccine campaign that started in late December, the EU enacted an export control system for COVID-19 vaccines in late January, forcing companies to adhere to their contractual obligations to the bloc before commercial export can be performed. approved.
The EU is specifically angry with AstraZeneca for delivering far fewer doses to the block than promised. From the first order for 80 million doses to the EU in the first quarter, the company will struggle to deliver just half that amount.
Rumors had it that the company was shifting from EU manufacturing facilities to other countries, but CEO Pascal Soriot insisted that any shortage was only due to technical manufacturing issues.
The EU has only vaccinated 8% of the population, compared to more than 30%, for example in the UK. Australia is still very much at the start of its vaccination program.
The EU is in a knot with such action. On the one hand it is under great pressure to increase the production of vaccines in the bloc, on the other hand it wants to remain an attractive hub for pharmaceutical giants and a fair trade partner to third countries.
The EU thought it had made perfect preparations for the roll-out of vaccinations over the past year, heavily funding research and production capacity. With 450 million people, the EU has agreements for six different vaccines. In total, it has ordered up to 400 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and signed agreements with other companies for more than 2 billion injections.
Despite the current difficulties, it says it still believes it could vaccinate 70% of the adult population by the end of the summer.
Danica Kirka contributed from London, Colleen Barry from Milan and Nick Perry from Wellington, New Zealand.