See question(s) : P-000210/2021
EN P-000210/2021
Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
(24.3.2021)
The Commission has secured a portfolio of more than 2.6 billion doses. It was important to build a diversified portfolio of vaccines based on different technologies, to increase the chances that one or more of the vaccine candidates are approved. Via its EU Strategy for COVID-19 vaccines1 , the Commission has secured access for such vaccines to Member States, at the same time, as soon as they become available. One of the guiding principles of the vaccines strategy is therefore to avoid parallel negotiations, as this would undermine the Strategy’s effectiveness. The Strategy was developed based on a strong mandate from Member States, according to the principle that working together is the best way to provide enough vaccines for the EU. All Member States, including Poland, signed up to a legally binding agreement, of which Article 7 reads: “By signing the present Agreement, the Participating Member States confirm their participation in the procedure and agree not to launch their own procedures for advance purchase of that vaccine with the same manufacturers”. The basic principle for the allocation of doses to Member States is the population-based distribution key. This is a pro rata key on the basis of population numbers, and ensures a fair distribution, as all Member States are hit by the virus. It is possible, however, that some Member States wish to have less doses, whilst others wish more. Member States may agree between themselves on redistribution. However, the Commission is not in a position to disclose the arrangements taken by the Member States.
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1 https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/public-health/coronavirus-vaccinesstrategy_en
Source : © European Union, 2021 – EP