Reduction in covid-19 vaccine supplies in the first quarter could hit the EU’s vaccination targets
The British–Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company – AstraZeneca Plc. has told the European Union (E.U.) that it will deliver less than 50% of the agreed Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by the second quarter of the year.
The shortfall, which has not previously been reported, follows a big reduction in supplies in the first quarter and could hit the EU’s ability to meet its target of vaccinating 70% of adults by summer. The company has said it is striving to increase productivity to deliver 180 million doses.
However, an E.U. Official, who is directly in talks with the AstraZeneca said that the company had already informed the E.U. during internal meetings that it would deliver less than 90 million doses in the second quarter.
Speaking on the occasion, the AstraZeneca Spokesperson said, “We are hopeful that we will be able to bring our deliveries closer in line with the advance purchase agreement.”
He further said, “At this stage AstraZeneca is working to increase productivity in its EU supply chain and to continue to make use of its global capability in order to achieve delivery of 180 million doses to the EU in the second quarter.”
However, even if AstraZeneca fails to meet its target, the E.U would still be able to meet its target of vaccinating the 70% if vaccination as deliveries from other vaccines developers are on track.
During the first quarter of 2021, AstraZeneca was supposed to deliver 90 million doses of the vaccine. However, it is now delivering only 40 million doses. AstraZeneca had warned the E.U. in January 2021 that it would fall short of its first-quarter commitments due to production issues. It was also due to deliver 30 million doses in the last quarter of 2020 but did not supply any shots last year as its vaccine had yet to be approved by the E.U.
As per the agreement, AstraZeneca’s is to supply E.U. had asked AstraZeneca to supply doses made elsewhere to make-up for the shortfall. E.U. had asked AstraZeneca to supply doses made elsewhere to make-up for the shortfall. AstraZeneca is to produce vaccines for the bloc at two plants in the United Kingdom (U.K.), one in Belgium and one in the Netherlands.
Separately, there has also been a delay in the vaccines developed by Pfizer – BioNTech and Moderna. While drug makers developed COVID-19 vaccines at breakneck speed, many have struggled with manufacturing delays due to complex production processes, limited facilities and bottlenecks in the supply of vaccine ingredients.
As per the Health Ministry of Germany, AstraZeneca is forecast to make up all of the shortfalls in deliveries by the end of September 2021. Germany expects to receive 34 million doses in the third quarter, taking its total to 56 million shots, which is in line with AstraZeneca’s full share of the 300 million doses it is due to supply to the E.U.
