EU to sign contract for up to 300 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
The European Union is about to buy up to 300 doses of a Coronavirus vaccine developed by the US pharmaceutical Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, the European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday.
The move by the EU Executive arm came after Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate, was found to be 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 among those without evidence of prior infection.
“Great news from Pfizer & BioNTech Group on the successful results of their latest clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine. European science works,” von der leyen wrote in a Twitter post.
She added that the EU Commission is set to sign contract with them soon for up to 300 million doses. “Let’s keep protecting each other in the meantime,” the Commission’s chief concluded.
Europe’s Health chief, Stella Kyriakides echoed von der Leyen’s comments, saying that the Commission is “leaving no stone unturned to secure safe and efficient vaccines under our EU Vaccine Strategy.”
Great news from @pfizer & @BioNTech_Group on the successful results of their latest clinical trial for a #COVID19 vaccine. European science works!@EU_Commission to sign contract with them soon for up to 300 million doses.
Let's keep protecting each other in the meantime.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 9, 2020
Pfizer’s results were based on the first interim efficacy analysis conducted by an external and independent Data Monitoring Committee from the phase three clinical study. The vaccine could be available in limited use as early as late December and widely available by the third quarter of 2021.
The Commission has already signed supply deals with AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson for their potential COVID-19 shots.
