EU finalises third contract with Pfizer, BioNTech for 1.8 billion doses

A public health board advises people to follow Covid rules as a variant of concern is affecting the community in Bolton, England. Pic/AFP

The European Union's (EU) executive arm on Thursday finalised a third vaccine contract with Pfizer and BioNTech through 2023 for an additional 1.8 billion doses of their Covid-19 shot.

The European commission said the deal, which was agreed on behalf of all 27 EU countries earlier this month, will allow the buying of 900 million doses of the current shots and of a serum adapted to the virus' variants, with an option to purchase an extra 900 million shots.

The signature of the agreement comes less than a week before a court hearing in Brussels pitting the Commission against the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which is accused by the EU of failing to deliver the promised number of doses of its own vaccine.

The Commission said that the deal with Pfizer-BioNTech stipulates that the production of doses must be based in the EU and that essential components are sourced from the region. "From the start of the supply in 2022, the delivery to the EU is guaranteed," the Commission said.

UK sees 3,000 cases of Indian variant

Almost 3,000 cases of the Coronavirus variant first detected in India have been reported in Britain, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. In a statement on Wednesday at the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament, Hancock said 2,967 cases of the variant have now been recorded, 28 per cent up from more than 2,300 on Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

‘Vaccination must to enter Saudi'

Saudi Arabia has decided to limit the entry of individuals for most events and into public places from August 1 unless they have been vaccinated against Covid-19, the Ministry of Interior said. Covid-19 vaccination will be necessary for individuals to enter social, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, entertainment or sporting event, according to the Ministry.

Oz opens talks over vaccine passports

The Australian government has opened talks with international airlines on digital vaccine passports for people who have been inoculated against Covid-19, a media report said on Thursday. The Australian Border Force and the International Air Transport Association have been in discussions about vaccinated Australians using the IATA Travel Pass, a source said.

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5,39,233
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

16,50,15,132
Total no. of cases worldwide

34,20,173
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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