EU in talks with Valneva to secure 60m Covid vaccine doses

The European Commission has concluded preliminary talks with French biotech company Valneva with the view to purchasing its potential vaccine for its coronavirus relief.

Bloc officials are looking to secure at least 30 million doses from Valneva, with the option of 30 million more once the deal has been solidified.

Read more: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine submitted for EU regulation

If ratified, it will be the eighth major coronavirus vaccine the EU have signed a contract for, ensuring they can ship as many doses across the 27 members states in a timely fashion.

The EU has been struggling to meet with the demand for vaccines, but many companies have upped production following the Christmas slump with the potential for billions of doses to be readily available by the end of the year.

In May 2020, the EU led an initiative to provide the entire world with vaccines for Covid following a rallying cry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) who worried that poorer countries may not have the resources or ability to easily secure vaccine doses.

The pledge raised over €7.4 billion in vaccine relief funding.

Read more: EC pledge: over €7.4 billion raised in funds for vaccines

Member states are able to donate vaccines to lower and middle-income countries or have the ability to re-direct it to other European countries.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "The continuing Covid-19 pandemic in Europe and around the globe makes it more important than ever that all Member States have access to the broadest possible portfolio of vaccines to help protect people in Europe and beyond.

"Today's step toward reaching an agreement with Valneva further complements the EU's vaccines portfolio and demonstrates the Commission's commitment to finding a lasting solution to the pandemic."

Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: "With this eighth vaccine, we are adding to our already broad and diversified range of vaccines in our portfolio. By doing this, we can maximise our chances of making sure that all citizens can have access to safe and effective of vaccinations by the end of 2021.

"All Member States have now started their vaccination campaigns and will start receiving an increasing number of doses in order to cover all their needs during this year."

Read more: EU regulators give green light for Moderna vaccine rollout

Valenva's vaccine uses a more traditional vaccination method by injecting the patient with an inactivated virus which stimulates an immune response. This is a markedly different approach than the mRNA gene therapy technology used by all the other major vaccine candidates available in Europe.

The Commission has agreed to provide a portion of the upfront costs faced by vaccine producers in the form of Advanced Purchase Agreements.

The funding is considered a down payment that will eventually be delivered by the various member states.

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