EU looks to US for help covering AstraZeneca vaccine shortfall

The European Commission is to urge the US to allow the export of millions of doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to the EU as Brussels races to make up the shortfalls that have hindered its inoculation programme.

According to reports in the FT, EU officials said the matter will be raised at the forthcoming transatlantic discussions, which are looking to boost collaboration over the battle against Covid-19.

AstraZeneca vaccines are produced in its UK and EU factories and the company runs production supply chains in several other countries including the US. 

Read more: Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine approved for EU rollout

At present, in accordance with an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in December, domestically-produced Covid-19 vaccines are to go to US citizens first. Brussels will now urge Washington to remove the ban and also to enable the free flow of vital vaccine ingredients needed for the production of mRNA vaccines in Europe.

“We trust that we can work together with the US to ensure that vaccines produced or bottled in the US for the fulfilment of vaccine producers’ contractual obligations with the EU will be fully honoured,” the European Commission was quoted as saying in the FT.

The push for access to US production of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine comes as the company was forced to slash its European vaccine delivery targets for the first quarter of 2021, and as the EU is struggling to provide enough doses for its member states.

Last month, AstraZeneca chief Pascal Soriot admitted to EU lawmakers that the company would deliver less than half the number of vaccine doses in the bloc that it had initially pledged. The number was revised from an initial 100 million doses by the end of March, down to 40 million, which the company has said it is still on track for.

AstraZeneca also said that a further 90 million doses for the second quarter will need to be sourced from outside the bloc, though it did not state where these would come from.

The EU is now lagging well behind the UK and US in terms of its vaccination drive. According to Saturday's figures published on Our World In Data, the number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered per 100,000 in the EU stood at 9.11. This is around one-third of the United States' 26.56 per 100,000, and lower still than the UK's 34.37.

In the light of the UK's high numbers, there have been accusations by some EU officials that AstraZeneca has been giving Britain preferential treatment.

The White House has said that it intends for jabs produced in the United States to be used for domestic demand first, as per the former president's executive order.

However, the situation is less straightforward, given that the AstraZeneca jab has yet to receive regulatory authorisation in the US. 

The FT report cited a White House official as saying: "The president’s first priority is to make vaccines available for every American. The US and EU have committed to deepening co-operation on pandemic response, including by enhancing public health capabilities and information sharing. We know that in order to beat this pandemic and to turn a corner on economic recovery, we must work with our allies and partners."

The news comes days after Italy, with the backing of the European Commission, blocked a shipment of the AstraZeneca jabs to Australia. The move has stoked concerns about vaccine hoarding and supply chain disruption around the world, though Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisson said he "understands" the reasons why Italy blocked the shipment and that it would not impact vaccine rollout in his country.

Read more: EU Chief von der Leyen issues Covid vaccine export warning at virtual EU summit

In recent weeks, reports backed by official figures have also been emerging that almost 13 million doses, mostly from AstraZeneca, have not been administered in the EU, with many Europeans seemingly unwilling to accept the jab.

Data released by the European Centre on Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), revealed that 43.4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed to EU or EEA member states, but only 30.6 million doses have been administered. 

It is unclear as to why the uptake for the AstraZeneca vaccine is lagging behind though a combination of delays in deliveries and age restrictions are likely to play some part.

Public mistrust of that particular jab has also been cited as a contributing factor with false reports in the media and public statements by politicians fuelling this mistrust. 

Two months ago, German daily Handelsblatt reported that the jab's effectiveness was reduced to 8% amongst the elderly. While this was proved to be false, it appears to be the starting point of the problems with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the EU.

French President Emmanuel Macron seemed to cause further damage with his claim, that he has since backtracked on, that “everything points to thinking it is quasi-ineffective on people older than 65, some say those 60 years or older.” 

A report by The Times recently claimed to have uncovered a disinformation campaign which it alleges originated in Russia, whereby people are targeted with "distorted images" with claims the AstraZeneca jab “could turn people into monkeys because it uses a chimpanzee virus as a vector.”

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