Press release - COVID-19: updates on advance purchases of vaccines

On Tuesday, Sandra Gallina, the Commission’s Director-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE), will update Members of the Budgetary Control Committee (CONT) on the eight advanced purchase agreements (APA) on coronavirus vaccines concluded by the Commission with pharmaceutical companies.

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, room A1G-3, Altiero Spinelli building and videoconference

MEPs expect to get clarifications on several issues that have emerged since the APAs were concluded, such as how effectively these agreements are being implemented, the quantity and quality of supplies, whether the companies are complying with the terms and deadlines of the contracts, and whether EU countries are adopting a consistent approach.

You can watch the debate live here.

Also on Tuesday, the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee will debate with Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), on the status of approving COVID-19 vaccines.

The European Commission has concluded eight advanced purchase agreements (APA) on coronavirus vaccines with pharmaceutical companies as part of the EU’s Vaccine Strategy. The European Parliament plays an essential role in scrutinising the financial management of the EU initiatives on vaccines to ensure it is sound.