Pfizer Agreement with Eu
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Pfizer Reaches Agreement with EU to Supply COVID-19 Vaccine
Pfizer, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, has signed a new agreement with the European Union (EU) to increase the supply of its vaccine to the bloc. The deal, announced on May 8, 2021, aims to provide the EU with an additional 1.8 billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from 2021 to 2023, with the option to order more if needed. The agreement also includes faster deliveries and the possibility of adapting the vaccine to new variants of the coronavirus.
The new agreement marks a significant expansion of the existing contract between Pfizer and the EU, which was signed in November 2020 and covered 200 million doses. Since then, Pfizer has delivered more than 100 million doses to the EU and is expected to deliver another 250 million doses by the end of June 2021. However, the initial rollout of the vaccine in Europe has faced some delays and challenges, including supply disruptions, logistics issues, and safety concerns.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to train the immune system to recognize and fight the coronavirus, has shown high efficacy in clinical trials and real-world studies. It was the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in December 2020, and has been authorized for emergency use in many countries around the world. However, the vaccine requires ultra-cold storage and transportation (-70°C) and two doses given three to four weeks apart, which can complicate the distribution and administration process.
The new agreement between Pfizer and the EU aims to address some of these challenges and provide more flexibility and predictability in the vaccine supply. According to the press release from Pfizer, the company will increase its manufacturing capacity and invest in new production facilities and supply chains to meet the demand from the EU. The company also plans to seek regulatory approval for new formulations and dosing schedules of the vaccine, including a lower-dose version for children and adolescents.
The agreement with Pfizer is part of the EU`s strategy to secure a diverse and sufficient portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as to support the global efforts to end the pandemic. The EU has already signed contracts with other vaccine developers, such as AstraZeneca, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and CureVac, and is also exploring the possibility of using other types of vaccines, such as protein-based and viral vector-based ones. Moreover, the EU has committed to share part of its vaccine supply with low- and middle-income countries through the COVAX initiative.
The new agreement with Pfizer is a positive development in the fight against COVID-19, as it provides the EU with more options and resources to protect its citizens and contribute to the global public health. However, the challenges and uncertainties of the pandemic and the vaccine rollout are not over yet, and require continued vigilance, cooperation, and innovation from all stakeholders. As the CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, stated in the press release: “Our work is not done until we have delivered vaccines to everyone who needs them, no matter where they live or their socioeconomic background.”
