The tension between the European authorities and Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE is on the rise after officials said the companies unexpectedly halted supplies of Covid-19 vaccines and compromised their immunization schedules.
The Italian government has asked the country’s Attorney General to investigate whether it can take legal action after Pfizer cut deliveries of its vaccine for this week by 29% in redesigning its Belgian factory, a government spokeswoman said Wednesday. .
Separately, the German state of Hamburg said Pfizer had delivered fewer vials of vaccine to the city this week than expected.
In Europe, Pfizer and BioNTech initially shipped vials of five vaccine doses, but due to a precaution known as overfilling, the vials contain enough extra liquid for a sixth dose. After the European Union medicines agency decided on Jan. 8 that six doses could be withdrawn from a vial, the companies reduced the number of vials dispensed, arguing that their contract was for a certain number of doses, not vials. The companies have said they were on track to deliver the number of doses they promised.
A spokeswoman for the Hamburg government said the state has struggled to get the sixth dose because special syringes are needed and the authorities have not been able to purchase them in sufficient quantities. This has resulted in their mobile vaccination teams inoculating care homes being unable to use the full amount of the vaccine, she said.