EU Strategy for COVID-19 vaccines

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 17 June 2020, setting out a strategy aimed at accelerating the development, manufacturing and deployment of vaccines against COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Further information:

This strategy sets out a joint approach for the European Union (EU) and builds on the mandate received by the Council of the European Union. The Commission vows to support efforts to accelerate the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines in a timeframe between 12 and 18 months, if not earlier. The strategy builds on an earlier step towards joint action, which was taken in the formation of an Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA) by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

The Strategy has the following objectives:

• Ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines;
• Securing swift access to vaccines for Member States and their populations while leading the global solidarity effort;
• Ensuring equitable access to an affordable vaccine as early as possible.

The Strategy rests on the following two pillars: security the production of vaccines in the European Union and sufficient supplies for its Member States through Advance Purchase Agreements with vaccine producers via the Emergency Support Instrument; adapting the EU's regulatory framework to the sanitary emergency and making use of existing regulatory flexibility to accelerate developments, authorisation and availability of vaccines while maintaining standards for quality, safety and efficacy.

The Strategy and related initiatives were subject to debate with the European Parliament's relevant committee on 22 June.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Commentary and Analysis

AstraZeneca: Press Release, 13/06/2020: AstraZeneca to supply Europe with up to 400 million doses of Oxford University’s vaccine at no profit https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2020/astrazeneca-to-supply-europe-with-up-to-400-million-doses-of-oxford-universitys-vaccine-at-no-profit.html

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News

Politico, 03/06/2020: 4 EU states form alliance to negotiate on coronavirus vaccines https://www.politico.eu/article/four-eu-states-form-alliance-to-negotiate-on-coronavirus-vaccines/

EUObserver, 05/06/2020: Commission plans strategy to 'maximise' vaccine access https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148564

EUObserver, 12/06/2020: EU wants to pay in advance for promising vaccines https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148632

Dutchnews.nl, 13/06/2020: Dutch sign up to Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/06/dutch-sign-up-to-oxford-universitys-covid-19-vaccine/

France24, 13/06/2020: Covid-19: France, Italy, Germany and Netherlands sign vaccine deal for Europe https://www.france24.com/en/20200613-covid-19-france-italy-germany-and-netherlands-sign-vaccine-deal

Euronews, 13/06/2020: Coronavirus vaccine: Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance strikes giant agreement with AstraZeneca https://www.euronews.com/2020/06/13/coronavirus-vaccine-europe-s-inclusive-vaccines-alliance-strikes-giant-agreement-with-astr

Reuters, 15/06/2020: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to be shared across Europe, says France https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN23M15T

RFI News, 15/06/2020: France and three other EU countries sign deal for AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines http://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200615-france-and-three-eu-countries-sign-deal-for-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccines-pharmaceuticals-europe-health-medicine-science

EUObserver, 15/06/2020: EU Commission ready to play bigger role in health sector https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/148640

EurActiv, 16/06/2020: Coalition of countries aims to keep COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Europe https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/coalition-of-countries-aims-to-keep-covid-19-vaccine-manufacturing-in-europe/

Politico, 16/06/2020: Vaccine alliance casts shadow over Commission’s new strategy https://www.politico.eu/article/vaccine-alliance-casts-shadow-over-commissions-new-strategy/

Politico, 17/06/2020: Commission casts itself as world’s vaccine superhero https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-casts-itself-as-worlds-vaccine-superhero/

EurActiv, 18/06/2020: EU goes easy on GMOs in race for COVID-19 vaccine https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/eu-goes-easy-on-gmos-in-race-for-covid-19-vaccine/

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Official

France: Embassy in London: News, 13/06/2020: Inclusive Vaccines Alliance reaches agreement with AstraZeneca https://uk.ambafrance.org/Inclusive-Vaccines-Alliance-reaches-agreement-with-AstraZeneca

European Commission: Press Release, 17/06/2020: Coronavirus: Commission unveils EU vaccines strategy https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1103

European Commission: News, 17/06/2020: Von der Leyen on European Vaccine Strategy: Making the world safe from the coronavirus https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ac_20_1120

European Parliament: Press Release, 22/06/2020: EU Strategy on COVID-19 vaccines must guarantee safety and accessibility for all https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20200619IPR81614/

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