London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 14, 2025

EU's von der Leyen threatens further Covid vaccine export controls, says AstraZeneca supplied less than 10% of agreed jabs

EU's von der Leyen threatens further Covid vaccine export controls, says AstraZeneca supplied less than 10% of agreed jabs

The EU will prevent future exports of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines leaving the bloc unless the drugmaker significantly steps up its supply efforts, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned on Monday.
Von der Leyen also accused the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant of so far delivering less than 10 percent of the EU's agreed number of doses of the vaccine it developed in partnership with Oxford University.

"AstraZeneca must increase its efforts. Otherwise we cannot allow exports," von der Leyen said during interviews with German media on Monday.

She said that AstraZeneca had not explained why it is able to supply Australia with vaccines, but not the EU's 27 member states.

Her comments come after the Italian government stopped a shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca doses from leaving the country for Australia last week, as Rome took advantage of a new scheme designed to safeguard EU vaccine supplies.

Von der Leyen admitted that she personally backed the decision, and warned that the Netherlands could also clamp down on vaccine exports, because – like Italy – it has also received less than 10 percent of its agreed AstraZeneca doses.

The new export authorization scheme requires member states to give their prior approval before EU-produced vaccines can be shipped outside the bloc.

The scheme, which seeks to bolster the EU's slow vaccine rollout and protect contracted doses from leaving the bloc, was introduced in January in the wake of a row between Brussels and AstraZeneca over vaccine shortages.

The company had announced it would cut its deliveries to the EU from 80 million to 31 million doses during the first quarter due to production issues at its plants in Belgium and the Netherlands, then adjusted that target to 40 million.

In a deal reportedly worth €870 million ($1.03 billion), AstraZeneca had agreed to supply the EU with 80-120 million doses by the end of March and a further 180 million shots by the end of June, according to a contract published by Italian broadcaster RAI.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
×