People likely died due to vaccine delivery delays: Commission official

Delays in the delivery of Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines in the EU likely caused deaths, said Pierre Delsaux, deputy director general at DG SANTE on Thursday.

Speaking at POLITICO Live’s virtual panel “Health in the EU’s post-COVID-19 recovery,” Delsaux said that the Commission is taking the vaccine-maker to court to send a message that this lapse was “serious” and grounds for legal action. He pointed to some member states that have relied more heavily on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and described the effects of the shortfall as a “disaster” for them. 

His comments came following the first public airing of the dispute between the Commission and AstraZeneca on Wednesday, with the EU’s lawyers arguing that a judge needed to force the company to speed up deliveries. 

“We can say unfortunately that probably some people have died because of the fact that there wasn’t enough vaccine,” said Delsaux, while admitting that it was a “complex issue” that would be decided by the court.

For AstraZeneca, Delsaux said, it’s “too easy to take EU money, to agree to certain things and then not to deliver.” 

“When you take a commitment for such an important question like vaccination and you take a commitment to deliver certain quantities … It means that [there are] member states, people who are waiting to receive these vaccines, [and] are waiting to be protected from a very dangerous disease,” he said.  

A representative from industry took a far more skeptical view on what message the case is sending. European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Director General Nathalie Moll said that it’s “not really the best way to look into a partnership,” adding that there was “no doubt that everything has been tried in order to be able to meet the requirements and expectations.” 

This article is part of POLITICO’s premium policy service: Pro Health Care. From drug pricing, EMA, vaccines, pharma and more, our specialized journalists keep you on top of the topics driving the health care policy agenda. Email [email protected] for a complimentary trial.