Health

European Union sues AstraZeneca over vaccine delivery delays

London/Brussels, Apr 26 (EFE).- The European Commission said Monday that it is taking legal action against pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over alleged violations of agreements on the delivery of coronavirus vaccines.

“Our priority is to ensure Covid-19 vaccine deliveries take place to protect the health of the European Union,” Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety said.

 “This is why the European Commission has decided jointly with all Member States to bring legal proceedings against #AstraZeneca. Every vaccine dose counts. Every vaccine dose saves lives,” she added.

The European Commission had revealed intentions to sue the company that delivered only 29.8 million doses during the first semester and 70 million in the second, compared to 300 million doses that have been expected.

“The commission has started last Friday a legal action against the company AstraZeneca on the basis of breaches of the advanced purchase agreement,” EU Commission spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker said during a press conference.

“Some terms of the contract have not been respected and the company has not been in a position to come up with a reliable strategy to ensure timely delivery of doses,” he added.

But AstraZeneca insisted it had honored the deal.

“AstraZeneca has fully complied with the Advance Purchase Agreement with the European Commission and will strongly defend itself in court,” the company said in a statement.

“We believe any litigation is without merit and we welcome this opportunity to resolve this dispute as soon as possible,” the statement read. EFE

Jaf-er/ta/ks

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