Germany Backs EU COVID-19 Vaccine Export Restrictions

By Ahmed Rahma

Amid frustration over delays in the delivery of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot and other supply problems, the European Union (EU) has proposed the setting up of a register of vaccine exports.

On Tuesday, the Health Minister of Germany, Mr Jens Spahn, said he supports the proposal to introduce restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines.

This comes as tensions grew with AstraZeneca and Pfizer over sudden supply cuts just a month after the bloc started vaccinating citizens.

Speaking, the minister said, “I can understand that there are production problems but then it must affect everyone in the same way.

“This is not about Europe first but about Europe’s fair share, therefore, made sense to have export limits on vaccines.”

But Mr Spahn said it was encouraging that the number of new coronavirus cases was falling in Germany and that if that trend continues, a decision can be taken on future restrictions, adding that schools and nurseries would be the first places to re-open.

AstraZeneca had informed the 27-country EU last Friday that it could not meet supply targets for its vaccine up to the end of March, a further blow to the bloc’s pandemic efforts after Pfizer announced a temporary slowdown in supplies in January.

It also said on Monday that its Chief Executive had informed the EU it was doing everything it can to bring the vaccine to millions of Europeans as soon as possible.

An EU official declared that AstraZeneca had received an upfront payment of €336 million ($408 million) when the EU sealed a deal with the company in August 2020 for at least 300 million doses and an option for another 100 million.

The deal was the first signed by the bloc to secure COVID-19 shots.

That was after the United States in May secured 300 million doses for up to $1.2 billion, and Britain, also in May, secured 100 million doses for £84 million ($114 million).

Commenting, Britain’s vaccine deployment minister, Mr Nadhim Zahawi,  said although supplies were tight, he was confident Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna would meet their commitments.

“Any new manufacturing process is going to have challenges, it is lumpy and bumpy, (then) it gets better, it stabilises and improves going forward,” he stated.