EU won’t guarantee future Aussie vaccine supply

Australia’s vaccine supply could be caught up in brawls between the European Union and drug manufacturers. So, can Aussies rely on a supply?

Australia’s vaccine supply could be caught up in future brawls between the European Union and drug manufacturers.

The European Union (EU) has introduced laws allowing member states to delay or halt the export of vaccines produced within the bloc, including the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs.

With all 20 million doses of Australia’s Pfizer doses to be produced in the EU, the move has prompted fears the country’s rollout could be delayed.

The EU’s ambassador to Australia, Michael Pulch, insisted on Tuesday that Canberra could “rely” on exports from the bloc.

But with the EU suffering more than 450,000 deaths since the onset of the virus, Mr Pulch would not rule out its member states voting to prioritise themselves over Australia in the future.

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The EU has imposed export controls on vaccines produced within its territory. Picture: Thomas Samson / AFP

The EU has been embroiled in a stoush with AstraZeneca. Picture: Justin Tallis / AFP

“The mechanism that we introduced … is one of these rules that you introduce in order not to use them,” he told ABC Radio.

“It is temporary, it ends at the end of March. So it really addresses a specific situation at this point in time.”

The EU has exempted developing nations from the measures, but Mr Pulch claimed Canberra had not been singled out.

“It has not targeted Australia or other partner countries specifically,” he said.

“We’ve been very clear from the outset that this will not affect our humanitarian co-operation with developing countries.”

The laws were introduced after AstraZeneca announced it would only deliver 40 per cent of the doses the EU was promised in the first quarter of the year, citing supply issues.

Mr Pulch denied the measures were “an export ban” but said they forced companies to be transparent about shipments from EU production sites.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has assured Australians the measures won’t dent Australia’s rollout plans. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Australia doubled its order of the Pfizer vaccine to 20 million doses last week.

And Health Minister Greg Hunt has assured Australians the measures would not dent Australia’s rollout plans, with the first Pfizer jabs to be administered at the end of February.

Mr Pulch confirmed that Australia’s first doses of the Pfizer, the only jab approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), had not been impacted.

“It has not targeted Australia or other partner countries specifically,” he said.

“I’m very pleased to announce that these shipments to Australia will arrive on time.

“My colleagues in Brussels have assured the Australian side that they will work with them on a smooth authorisation process.

“And I’m quite excited … the first vaccinations that will be rolled out here in Australia will all be produced in Europe.”

Drug manufacturer CSL planned to produce 50 million of the AstraZeneca jab in Melbourne, a project the government said lower Australia’s vulnerability to international supply issues.