EU Places Export Controls on Coronavirus Vaccines

CNBC News reports that the European Union (EU) late last week imposed temporary controls on the export of coronavirus vaccines, after a dispute with U.K. drugmaker AstraZeneca and wider supply problems. This follows Pfizer's announcement that it would temporarily lower vaccine production as it upgraded production capacity at its Belgian plant, while AstraZeneca stated it would be delivering far fewer doses to Europe in the spring than initially expected, due to production issues at its Dutch and Belgian facilities. "Protecting the health of our citizens remains our utmost priority, and we must put in place the necessary measures to ensure we achieve this," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The controls are expected to last until the end of March, and they empower EU member states to reject authorizing exports if the vaccine makers fail to honor contracts. Countries like the United States, Japan, and Canada are expected to be impacted, in addition to Britain. "This time-limited and targeted system covers only those COVID-19 vaccines that were agreed by Advanced Purchase Agreements with the EU," said EU official Valdis Dombrovskis. "This mechanism includes a wide range of exemptions to fully honor our humanitarian aid commitments and protect vaccines deliveries to our neighborhood, and to countries in need covered by the COVAX facility."