Germany is Working on a Vaccine Procurement Plan

Germany is set to forge a new alliance with three European Union countries to secure access to coronavirus vaccines, once they are developed, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported.

Health Minister Jens Spahn wrote to the European Commission along with his counterparts from France, Italy and the Netherlands to announce that they have joined to “achieve the fastest and best possible outcome in negotiations with key players in the pharmaceutical industry.”

The four EU countries have identified the development of a vaccine as “one of the most urgent issues that the European Union has to address at present.”

Germany is eager to ensure the EU will have vaccine access over fears that China or the United States may attempt to control purchases of any potential vaccines.

AstraZeneca is one of several companies that Germany is now in talks with, according to Handelsblatt.

The four EU countries may be in talks with other non-EU members on working together for vaccine procurement, including Singapore, the UK and Japan.

Source