Vials of AstraZeneca vaccine in opposition to coronavirus (COVID-19) in the course of the first day of a mass vaccination of Police and Firefighter
Vials of AstraZeneca vaccine in opposition to coronavirus (COVID-19) in the course of the first day of a mass vaccination of Police and Firefighters within the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium.
Marcos del Mazo | LightRocket | Getty Pictures
LONDON — The European Union has made its first intervention into the availability of coronavirus vaccines, with Italy reportedly blocking a cargo of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine to Australia on Thursday.
Reuters reported, citing two sources, that AstraZeneca had requested permission from Rome to ship round 250,000 doses from its Anagni plant. Nonetheless, the Italian authorities refused. The Monetary Occasions additionally reported the identical story. A spokesperson for AstraZeneca wasn’t instantly accessible for remark when contacted by CNBC.
In January, the European Union positioned non permanent controls on the export of vaccines made contained in the bloc, following a spat with British pharma large AstraZeneca and wider provide points. The EU has been beneath stress for what critics describe as a gradual rollout of Covid vaccines.
The European Fee, the establishment main the acquisition agreements, has been blamed for not securing sufficient vaccines, and the area’s medical company has been criticized for taking too lengthy to approve inoculations which have acquired the inexperienced gentle elsewhere.
The controls will final till the top of March and provides powers to EU member states to reject authorizing exports if the vaccine makers don’t honor contracts.