After EU moves to block coronavirus vaccine export, Australia now faces delay in COVID vaccination rollout

The federal government will make its case to the World Health Organisation after the European Union threatened to block coronavirus vaccine shipments to some countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne will represent Australia’s interest to the WHO to ensure the February planned vaccine rollout is still on track, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said on Saturday.

“Now as we understand our situation here in Australia, right now we are on track, we have brought forward the approval process, it’s been fully approved in terms of distribution of the vaccine we expect to roll out towards the end of February,” Mr Chester said.

Mr Chester said Health Minister Greg Hunt was making all the responsible moves to ensure the vaccination supply was available to Australia.

The EU made new export restrictions on vaccinations produced by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and AstraZeneca to a list of countries including Australia after supply shortages were reported.

The restrictions give EU citizens priority and ensure the pharmaceutical giants must seek approval first before sending doses abroad.

The move comes after AstraZeneca published its COVID-19 vaccine contract with the European Commission, signed on August 27.

The published version contains redacted parts related to some confidential information such as invoices.

“The Commission welcomes the company’s commitment towards more transparency in its participation in the rollout of the EU Vaccines Strategy,” the EU executive said in its statement.

WHAT’S CAUSED THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE VEXATION IN EUROPE？

A row has erupted between the European Union, Britain and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over the supply of coronavirus vaccines.

Here’s what we know about the dispute and its potential implications:

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM

AstraZeneca’s initial deliveries to the EU will fall short because of a production glitch – said to be at a hub in Belgium – and it will not be able to meet its supply targets for the first three months of this year.

The Anglo-Swedish company announced initial deliveries in the EU would total approximately 31 million doses, rather than the anticipated 80 million in the first quarter of the year.

With the speed of the UK’s vaccine rollout outstripping other European countries, the EU has suggested doses produced in Europe have been directed elsewhere.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has now called for an explanation from AstraZeneca for delivery hold-ups, as she insisted the supply orders are “binding” and “the contract is crystal clear”.

WHAT ELSE HAS THE EU SAID?

EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides has accused AstraZeneca of a “lack of clarity” and “insufficient explanations”, adding “the answers of the company have not been satisfactory” following a meeting on Monday.

She has proposed forcing all drug-makers to register their Covid-19 vaccine exports in advance, so the bloc can keep track of what they are doing.