BRUSSELS, Aug 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Commission (EC) has signed an agreement with the pharmaceutical AstraZeneca for the purchase of 300 million doses of potential vaccines against Covid-19.
The agreement also provides for the acquisition of an additional 100 million doses if the vaccine is safe and effective.
The contract was announced by a statement signed by the EC and President Ursula von der Leyen where it is ensured that Brussels “is working tirelessly to provide citizens of the European Union with a safe and effective vaccine against Covid-19. The signing of the contract with AstraZeneca is an important step in this direction ”.
The vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, in conjunction with the University of Oxford, has shown promising results and is already in the third phase of clinical trials. In late July, preliminary results published in the scientific journal Lancet realized that the vaccine induced an immune response and had “reduced side effects
This is the fifth contract between the European Commission and pharmaceutical companies that are developing a drug against Covid-19.
At the beginning of the week, Moderna’s turn to ensure at 27 an initial acquisition of up to 160 million mRNA-1273.
The acquisition of 300 million doses from the pharmaceutical Sanofi had previously been announced and this Monday, the European Commission confirmed, in a statement, that the negotiations between Johnson and Johnson and CureVac for the purchase of 200 million and 225 million were concluded. doses, respectively, of vaccines still under development.
All told, the 27 stock about 1.285 million doses of possible vaccines against Covid-19.
Last week, Portugal secured the acquisition of 6.9 million doses against Covid-19 for 20 million euros. According to the Government, this will be free, will arrive in December and will prioritize risk groups. — NNN-AGENCIES
