France backs Italy over block on exporting vaccines outside EU

FRANCE has backed Italy’s block on exports of coronavirus vaccines outside the European Union if necessary to enforce the bloc’s contracts with drugs manufacturers.

The EU defended Italian authorities’ decision to stop a large shipment of doses destined for Australia as part of a longstanding feud with drug manufacturer AstraZeneca.

The European Commission said the decision was not targeting Australia but had been taken to ensure AstraZeneca delivers the number of doses it committed to dispatch to EU countries.

Faced with a shortage of doses during the early stages of the vaccine campaign that started in late December, the EU announced the export control system for jabs in late January, in a bid to force companies to respect their contractual obligations to the bloc first.

Since the mechanism began on January 30, the commission said 174 authorisations of vaccine exports to 30 countries outside the EU have been approved. But the EU was upset by AstraZeneca as the company is delivering far fewer doses to the bloc than it promised. Of the initial order for 80 million doses first quarter this year, the company will be struggling to deliver half that quantity.

Italy’s decision to block the shipment of more than 250,000 AstraZeneca doses destined for Australia prompted member states to close ranks. French health minister Olivier Veran said he “understood” the Italian’s government decision and indicated France “could do the same”.