Pfizer might take over AstraZeneca jabs
The delay in the AstraZeneca vaccine campaign could be stopped by Pfizer.

The European Union will meet its vaccination targets this quarter despite AstraZeneca's delivery delays as Pfizer is producing faster than planned, said EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton on Saturday. AstraZeneca said Friday it will attempt to ship 30 million cans to the EU by the end of March. This is below a contractual commitment of 90 million and an earlier promise made last month to deliver 40 million cans. Breton told French radio station Europe 1 that the delay was unacceptable but that there were no plans to sue the company for the time being. "The good news is that despite the delays at AstraZeneca, we will not be defaulting on our vaccination program in the first quarter," said Breton. "Pfizer is producing more, much more than planned, and will deliver more to us," he added. Those responsible in the EU have come under fire because vaccinations are introduced more slowly than in other countries such as the UK or the United States due to a longer approval and procurement process and repeated delivery delays. AstraZeneca's new, lower delivery target depends on the block's drug agency approving deliveries from a factory in the Netherlands, an internal document showed, Reuters reported on Saturday. Breton said AstraZeneca was having problems with tests, which were a sign of logistical problems, and urged the board to take action. He also criticized French-born boss Pascal Soriot for staying in Australia despite the troubles, which in his opinion meant he was able to visit the company's facilities while Soriot could not. "I'm not going to say that I know their factories better than they do, but I'm there," said Breton.





