18th April 2021 the European Union’s internal market commissioner Breton said, in view of AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals earlier this year repeatedly delayed the delivery of coronavirus vaccine ordered by the European Union, the European Union may decide not to renew the vaccine procurement contract with the company.
“As head of vaccines (procurement) in the European Union, my first priority is to ensure that pharmaceutical companies deliver vaccines on time under contract, ” Brereton said in an interview with France’s BFMTV television on the same day.
In the first and second quarters of this year, the European Union ordered 120 million doses and 180 million doses of vaccines from AstraZeneca, respectively, but the company delivered only 30 million doses in the first quarter and only 70 million in the second quarter, Breton said.
Brereton also said that the EU side has not yet made a final decision, and will continue to discuss the issue.
It is reported that the European Union and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals signed a vaccine procurement contract will expire on June 30 this year.
