EU to extend COVID-19 vaccine export controls as AstraZeneca shipment blocked: sources

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EU to extend COVID-19 vaccine export controls as AstraZeneca shipment blocked: sources

By Francesco Guarascio, John Chalmers and Giselda Vagnoni

 

FILE PHOTO: Vials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is seen in the fridge of a doctor's office in Gouzeaucourt as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign in France, February 24, 2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is planning to extend its export authorisation scheme for COVID-19 vaccines to the end of June, two EU sources told Reuters on Thursday, as a shipment of AstraZeneca shots from the EU to Australia was blocked.

 

Extending controls could reignite tensions with countries who rely on shots made in the EU.

 

Under the scheme, companies must get an authorisation before exporting COVID-19 shots, and may have export requests denied if they do not respect their supply commitments with the EU.

 

The mechanism was set up at the end of January as a reaction to vaccine makers' announcements of delays in the deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines to the bloc.

 

It is due to expire at the end of March, but the European Commission wants to extend it through June, the two officials said.

 

"The Commission will propose its extension into June. And that was greeted by the member states with approval, not necessarily enthusiasm, but there is a feeling that we still need that mechanism," one senior EU diplomat said.

 

The second official added that at a meeting with EU diplomats on Wednesday, many countries supported the measure, including heavyweights Germany and France.

 

The EU Commission was not immediately available for a comment.

 

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has also called for sanctions on companies that do not respect their contractual obligations with the EU.

 

When the EU's export control mechanism was introduced in late January it triggered an outcry from importing countries who feared their vaccine supplies might be affected.

 

On Thursday two separate sources told Reuters the EU blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca's vaccine destined for Australia after the drug manufacturer failed to meet its EU contract commitments.

 

The sources said AstraZeneca had requested permission from the Italian government to export some 250,000 doses from its Anagni plant, near Rome.

 

Australian lawmakers said they were unfazed. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the country had already received its first shipment of the vaccine, which would be enough until a batch being produced domestically by CSL Ltd was completed.

 

"This is one shipment from one country," Hunt said in a statement.

 

"This shipment was not factored into our distribution plan for coming weeks," he added.

 

In January, AstraZeneca cut its supplies to the EU in the first quarter to 40 million doses from 90 million foreseen in the contract, and later told EU states it would cut deliveries by another 50% in the second quarter. AstraZeneca later said it was striving to supply missing doses for the second quarter from outside Europe.

 

Until the decision to bloc the shipment to Australia, the EU had authorised all requests for export since the scheme's debut on Jan. 30 to Feb. 26, which amounted to 150 requests for millions of shots to 29 countries, including Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Canada, an EU Commission spokeswoman said.

 

She added, however, that at least one other request was withdrawn by an exporting company. She declined to elaborate.

Export requests mostly concern the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine which is manufactured in Belgium. AstraZeneca and Moderna shots have also been exported from the EU.

 

Since Jan. 30 more than 8 million vaccines were shipped from the EU to Britain, a third EU source said.

 

Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.

 

The United States also has regulations that effectively ban vaccine exports, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, told a news conference last week.

 

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, John Chalmers and Giselda Vagnoni, with additional reporting by Byron Kaye in Sydney; Editing by Toby Chopra and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-04

 

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[Crossy]

The EU showing its true colours, after rubbishing the Az jab they now won't let anyone else have it.

 

Why did I immediately think of this?

 

 

 

[Rookiescot]

4 minutes ago, Crossy said:

The EU showing its true colours, after rubbishing the Az jab they now won't let anyone else have it.

 

Why did I immediately think of this?

 

 

 

And yet you have no problem with this I take it?

 

Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.

[topt]

34 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

 

And yet you have no problem with this I take it?

 

Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.

I have no idea of the real specific details but according to what you quoted above at least it was written into the original UK contract presumably signed last year some time.  The EU "mechanism" appears to have only been set up in January once supply issues arose and they realised their contracts weren't up to the job...... 

 

Also common knowledge France and Germany have not exactly been supportive of the AZ vaccine. 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Rookiescot said:

 

And yet you have no problem with this I take it?

 

Britain has so far prevented the export of AstraZeneca vaccines to the EU, using a UK-first clause in its supply contract with the Anglo-Swedish firm, EU officials have said.

 

Most people have no problem with countries taking care of themselves before taking care of others.

 

What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next. This is not a game. Trying to score political points against the UK using false arguments about life saving vaccines that may actually deter people taking the vaccine is not acceptable.

 

The EU needs to drop this "woman scorned" act, especially when so many lives are potentially at stake. They need to grow up and act responsibly for once.

 

It's so obvious that even the BBC acknowledges it.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56252028

 

[Rookiescot]

51 minutes ago, topt said:

I have no idea of the real specific details but according to what you quoted above at least it was written into the original UK contract presumably signed last year some time.  The EU "mechanism" appears to have only been set up in January once supply issues arose and they realised their contracts weren't up to the job...... 

 

Also common knowledge France and Germany have not exactly been supportive of the AZ vaccine. 

 

So its OK for the UK to do it because they inserted a hoarding clause in its contract?

[Rookiescot]

7 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Most people have no problem with countries taking care of themselves before taking care of others.

 

What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next. This is not a game. Trying to score political points against the UK using false arguments about life saving vaccines that may actually deter people taking the vaccine is not acceptable.

 

The EU needs to drop this "woman scorned" act, especially when so many lives are potentially at stake. They need to grow up and act responsibly for once.

 

It's so obvious that even the BBC acknowledges it.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56252028

 

 

You will have to take your issues up with the French.

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

23 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next. This is not a game. Trying to score political points against the UK using false arguments about life saving vaccines that may actually deter people taking the vaccine is not acceptable.

Macron hasn’t been “hoarding” nor has he been “against the UK using false arguments”. You need to let go of your Brexit fanatism. 

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 hour ago, topt said:

I have no idea of the real specific details but according to what you quoted above at least it was written into the original UK contract presumably signed last year some time. 

So was it written in the EU contract that a certain amount would be supplied. This is AZ’s problem of overpromising without having enough capacity. 

 

[JonnyF]

20 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

 

You will have to take your issues up with the French.

 

 

Always amazing how quickly the Europhiles revert back to the concept of the nation state when the EU poop hits the fan ????.

 

[mfd101]

Europe catastrophic & catatonic. Oz calm & collected.

 

How the wheel turns!

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

Always amazing how quickly the Europhiles revert back to the concept of the nation state when the EU poop hits the fan ????.

 

It’s called sticking to facts. Something unfamiliar to Brexiteers. 

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Macron hasn’t been “hoarding” nor has he been “against the UK using false arguments”. You need to let go of your Brexit fanatism. 

 

 

 

Time you did some homework. You can read what he said about the AZ vaccine and how accurate it was here.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/55919245

 

And here's Germany's U turn.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/germany-changes-guidance-and-recommends-oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-over-65s-12235622

 

And the BBC's take on the reasons.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56252028

 

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

It’s called sticking to facts. Something unfamiliar to Brexiteers. 

You haven't presented any facts.

 

France is a leading member state of the EU and Macron is the President of France. See the link yet? 

[Chomper Higgot]

36 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Most people have no problem with countries taking care of themselves before taking care of others.

 

What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next. This is not a game. Trying to score political points against the UK using false arguments about life saving vaccines that may actually deter people taking the vaccine is not acceptable.

 

The EU needs to drop this "woman scorned" act, especially when so many lives are potentially at stake. They need to grow up and act responsibly for once.

 

It's so obvious that even the BBC acknowledges it.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56252028

 

“What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next.”

 

Apart from yourself, who are these people you refer to?

[JonnyF]

9 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

So was it written in the EU contract that a certain amount would be supplied. This is AZ’s problem of overpromising without having enough capacity. 

 

 

First come first served.

 

You snooze you lose.

 

The EU even admitted it was too cumbersome to compete with the dynamic UK. 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/05/ursula-von-der-leyen-uk-covid-vaccine-speedboat-eu-tanker

 

 

Starting to get it yet?

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

First come first served.

 

You snooze you lose.

 

The EU even admitted it was too cumbersome to compete with the dynamic UK. 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/05/ursula-von-der-leyen-uk-covid-vaccine-speedboat-eu-tanker

 

 

Starting to get it yet?

Off topic. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“What people have a problem with is leaders like Macron rubbishing the AZ vaccine one minute and then hoarding it the next.”

 

Apart from yourself, who are these people you refer to?

You have to look no further than this very thread.

 

Oh and the French medical profession.

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Time you did some homework. You can read what he said about the AZ vaccine and how accurate it was here.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/55919245

 

And here's Germany's U turn.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/germany-changes-guidance-and-recommends-oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-over-65s-12235622

 

And the BBC's take on the reasons.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56252028

 

 

Again, off topic. Start replying to what I wrote instead of engaging in your Brexit fanatism. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Off topic. 

 

You wish it was.????

 

The reason for the EU having a vaccine shortage and therefore having to restrict exports to Australia is very much on topic, even if you hate to hear it. Bit embarrassing huh.

[welovesundaysatspace]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

You haven't presented any facts.

I’ve corrected the false statements you made. Thus I’m asking you to stick to the facts. 
 

Macron hasn’t been “hoarding” nor has he been “against the UK using false arguments”.

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Again, off topic. Start replying to what I wrote instead of engaging in your Brexit fanatism. 

 

An inconvenient truth huh.

 

If Macron hadn't rubbished the AZ vaccine the EU rollout would be far ahead of where it is now. Now he's made a U turn and the EU is restricting it's export.

 

What a mess the EU is making of this. How embarrassing ????.

[welovesundaysatspace]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

You wish it was.????

 

The reason for the EU having a vaccine shortage and therefore having to restrict exports to Australia is very much on topic, even if you hate to hear it. Bit embarrassing huh.

The EU isn’t restricting exports. 
 

And the reason for the “shortages” (however you came up with that) is because a supplier is breaking their contractual obligations. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

I’ve corrected the false statements you made. Thus I’m asking you to stick to the facts. 
 

Macron hasn’t been “hoarding” nor has he been “against the UK using false arguments”.

 

His statement that the AZ vaccine was quasi-ineffective was false.

 

It was a false argument.

 

Now they are restricting export, or hoarding what they have.

 

How embarrassing. Can't get away from the facts.

[welovesundaysatspace]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

If Macron hadn't rubbished the AZ vaccine 

That has nothing to do with your initial assertion. 

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

The EU isn’t restricting exports. 

They have extended export controls. That is the topic of the thread.

 

You are gaslighting now. 

 

What a mess the EU has made that your only defense is to gaslight. How embarrassing.

[welovesundaysatspace]

22 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

They have extended export controls. That is the topic of the thread.

 

You are gaslighting now. 

 

What a mess the EU has made that your only defense is to gaslight. How embarrassing.

You’re the one who’s been making false statements about Macron bashing the UK (he didn’t) and the EU restricting exports (it didn’t). Not me. So keep the “gaslighting” for yourself. 

[Rookiescot]

43 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Always amazing how quickly the Europhiles revert back to the concept of the nation state when the EU poop hits the fan ????.

 

 

It was you who specifically mentioned the French.

All I did was point out the hypocrisy of Brexiteers complaining about the EU "hoarding" vaccines while the UK went as far as to actually insert a clause in the contract to allow it to hoard the vaccine.

[welovesundaysatspace]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

His statement that the AZ vaccine was quasi-ineffective was false.

 

It was a false argument.

That wasn’t what you claimed initially. 
 

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Now they are restricting export, or hoarding what they have.

No, France isn’t restricting exports or hoarding anything. 
 

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

How embarrassing. Can't get away from the facts.

You’re the one who’s been making false statements. 

[Chomper Higgot]

51 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

You have to look no further than this very thread.

 

Oh and the French medical profession.

 

That doesn’t back up your claim.

 

French Doctors criticism of Macron’s expressed views on the vaccine says nothing about their views wrt your accusation of Macron ‘hoarding’ the vaccine.

 

I suspect French doctors are rather pleased with the ‘U-turn’, but unlike yourself I don’t claim to actually know their views on Matters they have not spoken about.