AstraZeneca Warns EU of 50% Shortfall in COVID-19 Jab Deliveries in Second Quarter - Report

By Staff, Agencies

AstraZeneca’s contract with the European Union [EU] was leaked last week, revealing that the drug-maker had signed up to deliver 180 million doses to the 27-nation bloc in the second quarter, while warning Brussels back in January that it would fall short of its first-quarter commitments due to a plethora of production issues.

AstraZeneca Plc has informed the European Union to expect a shortfall in its deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines in the second quarter, Reuters reported.

The British–Swedish multinational pharmaceutical giant told the bloc during internal meetings that it “would deliver less than 90 million doses in the second quarter,” according to an EU official cited by the outlet.

The drug-maker planned to deliver about 40 million doses in the first quarter – also less than half the number of jabs it developed with the University of Oxford and was under contract to supply, the source added.

Problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by partner Novasep were reportedly cited.

A spokesman for AstraZeneca was quoted by the outlet as saying:

“We are hopeful that we will be able to bring our deliveries closer in line with the advance purchase agreement… We are continuously revising our delivery schedule and informing the European Commission on a weekly basis of our plans to bring more vaccines to Europe.”

In a subsequent statement on Tuesday, the company said its “most recent Q2 forecast for the delivery of its COVID-19 vaccine aims to deliver in line with its contract with the European Commission.”

“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,” the statement by the pharmaceutical company read.

A spokesman for the European Commission that coordinates talks with vaccine manufacturers refused to comment on the ‘confidential’ discussions.

However, the official added, the outlet stated that the EU should have ‘more than enough shots’ to reach vaccination targets if agreed deliveries from other suppliers are met.