Pfizer blasts EU for ‘holding back worldwide vaccine efforts’ & says bloc’s red tape is ‘significant burden’
PFIZER has accused the EU of delaying the supply of its jabs to countries battling Covid which are in desperate need of vaccines.
The drug maker has slammed export controls which it says have become a “significant burden” for production at its plant in Belgium, which supplies the UK and 70 other countries.
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Danny Hendrikse, its vice-president for global supply, told The Times that regulations introduced in February put new pressures on the supply chain.
He said company is now required to notify the Belgian government in advance about every parcel of vaccines it plans to export and approval must then be granted by the European Commission.
“It has caused a significant administrative burden and some uncertainty,” he said.
“Ultimately what we would like our colleagues to do is to focus on making and distributing the vaccine.”
The pharmaceutical boss’s comments come a trial shows that the Pfizer jab is safe and provides high levels of protection in children aged 12 to 15.
Researchers reported “robust” antibody responses in the children who were vaccinated, higher than in studies of young adults aged 16 to 25.
The Pfizer jab was the first to be given the green light by regulators and vaccinations began in the UK in December.
Boris Johnson has said that the UK has stockpiled 40 million doses of the jab.
But the company has been caught up in recent disputes between the UK and EU over vaccines.
It urged the EU to back down on its threats to block vaccine exports to the UK as essential ingredients are made in Yorkshire.
Pfizer’s concerns come amid the on-going vaccine fiasco in the EU and the uncertainty about the AstraZeneca jab.
President Emmanuel Macron has announced a three-week nationwide school closure and domestic travel ban amid a surge in coronavirus cases in France.
Adding to the country’s battle against the disease is that France is well behind the UK on its vaccine rollout following a series of U-turns on the AstraZeneca jab.
Macron initially claimed the remedy was not suitable for those aged over 65 before announcing it shouldn’t be given to those under 55 – and then later reintroducing it.
The jab has been backed by Europe’s regulatory agency, as well as the World Health Organisation.
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Meanwhile, reports in France claim Macron doesn’t bother listening to experts on Covid any more – despite soaring cases.
Germany and France were last night slammed for flirting with Vladimir Putin over the Sputnik V vaccine after trashing the AZ jab.
Critics warned they risk handing the Kremlin a major PR victory at a time when it is increasing its aggression towards the EU.
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