EU’s success with vaccine: 30% more vaccines to be delivered by AstraZeneca

Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European Commission announced on Sunday that AstraZeneca, who promised COVID-19 vaccines for the European Union, vowed an increase of 30% quantity in their deliveries. 

An additional 9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been promised by the pharmaceutical giant and is expected to start deliveries a week prior to the original schedule, which is mid-February. 

Also Read: Italy approves AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, recommends alternatives for over 55s

The announcement was made on Twitter after the company signed the delivery contracts for the vaccine. 

She told a German broadcaster, ZDF, that the contract had an additional 30% doses which will benefit the European Union’s goal to inoculate 70% of the adults in the member countries. 

The EU was under immense pressure due to problems with the supply encountered in mid-January which raised questions on the inoculation targets set by the regional alliance. 

On January 19, it said it aimed to vaccinate 80% of health professionals and people aged over 80 by March.

Also Read: Germany mulling legal action on vaccine makers over delivery delays

However, due to shortcomings in production, AstraZeneca was forced to announce a substantial three-quarter deficit in the promised deliveries to EU in the first quarter.  

Due to this, AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was approved for use in European Union on Friday, was in the crosshairs of the Union, which demanded a thorough investigation of the Belgian industrial site.