Minister Kiuru calls on head of AstraZeneca to ensure deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine
Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru calls on the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to scale up its production capacity and to deliver the agreed volumes of its COVID-19 vaccine to the EU Member States once the vaccine has been granted a marketing authorisation in the EU. Minister Kiuru sent a letter to Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, on 26 January.
AstraZeneca announced unexpectedly on 22 January that it would significantly reduce the initial deliveries of its vaccine to the EU in the upcoming months. Minister Kiuru stresses that this would weaken Finland’s ability to implement its COVID-19 vaccination programme in accordance with the vaccination strategy and make it more difficult for the municipalities to plan the organisation of vaccinations.
She calls on AstraZeneca to do its utmost to ensure the initial production volumes and delivery schedules. The pharmaceutical company has received funding from the EU to ensure the production and distribution of the vaccine. According to Minister Kiuru, AstraZeneca should honour its delivery commitments and fulfil the expectations of the EU and its Member States.
Inquiries:
Sampo Varjonen, Special Adviser to Minister Kiuru, [email protected]