Sun. Feb 16th, 2025

Brussels, 24 January 2025

The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed a framework contract for joint procurement with the pharmaceutical company Moderna on behalf of 17 participating countries, including 15 EU Member States. Participating countries will be able to order up to 146 million doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, depending on the national context and with no minimum quantity of doses purchased. The contract will have a maximum duration of four years.

This joint procurement ensures security of supply and improves the preparedness of participating countries for health crises, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccines are already available, this contract further facilitates access to a vaccine that offers easy transport and storage conditions. This could prove especially useful in an emergency, as the vaccine can be stored at regular freezing temperatures without the need for the ultra-low cold chain, allowing it to be distributed even more quickly and safely. In addition, participating countries will have pre-filled syringes, which will facilitate the administration of the vaccine and allow for a faster vaccination campaign.

Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said:

I welcome today’s announcement as a testament to our continued efforts to improve preparedness and ensure the supply of medical countermeasures to protect the most vulnerable from COVID-19. This particular vaccine, which has a supply of up to 146 million doses, offers considerable advantages: it can be stored in standard freezers used for routine vaccines and can be delivered in pre-filled syringes. These features improve the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns, which is especially important for reaching those who need it most. Strengthening health security remains an essential element of our Union of preparedness.

37 countries have signed the Joint Procurement Agreement, an EU-level mechanism with other participating countries to jointly procure medical countermeasures as an alternative or complement to procurement at national level, on a voluntary and flexible basis. This mechanism contributes to EU-level preparedness for public health crises or pandemics.

More information on the joint procurement agreement and the work of HERA is available online.

 

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