- EU countries have ordered nearly 40 million additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson.
- EU countries initially ordered 200 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and according to the contract, up to 200 million doses of optional vaccines can be purchased.
- Johnson & Johnson expects to provide 55 million doses of vaccine to the EU in the second quarter of this year, but it is far from reaching that goal.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said that despite the company’s supply shortage in the first half of this year, EU countries have ordered nearly 40 million additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson.
This move shows confidence in the single-dose vaccine, but also shows a cautious attitude, because the orders placed are far below the possible number stipulated in the contract.
EU countries initially ordered 200 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and according to the contract, up to 200 million doses of optional vaccines can be purchased.
A spokesperson for the European Commission responsible for coordinating procurement told Reuters that some EU countries have decided to take the first option and have ordered an additional 36.7 million doses.
He declined to say which countries have enabled the option and when the dose will be provided.
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According to the contract, this option must be exercised before March, but the EU negotiated an extension. Of the 100 million additional doses ordered in the first batch, only one-third were purchased.
The EU spokesperson said that the EU is negotiating to extend the terms of the second additional dose option. The option expires at the end of June.
Johnson & Johnson confirmed an additional order of nearly 40 million doses, and said it is in talks about the possible supply of more vaccines. It declined to comment on the delivery time.
Amid growing concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus Delta variant, a warning is not to return to normal prematurely.https://t.co/0ZcMIIwfnE
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The EU spokesperson declined to say whether the extra doses were used in the country where they were purchased or donated to poorer countries outside the EU. EU officials have told Reuters that Johnson & Johnson’s additional doses are likely to be sent abroad.
The EU relies heavily on vaccines developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to vaccinate its own population. It also hopes to donate at least 100 million doses of vaccine to poorer countries by the end of the year.
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Johnson & Johnson expects to provide 55 million doses of vaccine to the EU in the second quarter of this year, but it is far from reaching that goal. According to EU data, as of the end of June, only about 15 million vaccines were shipped to the EU due to the company’s production problems.
