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(Adds details, timetable for other contracts)
BRUSSELS, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The distribution of an initial
200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer
and BioNTech across the European Union will
be completed by September, a spokesman for the EU Commission
said on Monday.
The protracted timetable, which was previously unknown,
confirms that the bloc, with a population of 450 million, will
need vaccines from other suppliers to speed up inoculations
against the new coronavirus.
Most EU countries began inoculating healthcare workers and
vulnerable people on Sunday with the Pfizer vaccine, which is
the only one so far authorised in the 27-nation bloc, and
requires a two-dose regimen.
"Distribution of the full 200 million doses is scheduled to
be completed by September 2021," the spokesman told Reuters in
an emailed statement.
He added that talks were underway to agree the delivery of a
further 100 million doses which are optional under the contract
sealed with the two companies, confirming an earlier report from
Reuters.
The timetable for the additional doses is unclear.
The spokesman said that most supply contracts agreed by the
EU with COVID-19 vaccine makers foresee that the majority of
deliveries should be completed by the end of next year.
The EU has signed advance purchase agreements with
Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson,
Moderna, Sanofi and CureVac for a
total of nearly 2 billion doses.
The bloc's drug regulator is set to decide on the possible
approval of the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 6, and has said that it
could receive applications for approval from AstraZeneca and
Johnson & Johnson in the first quarter of next year.
The EU Commission spokesman added that under some of the
agreed contracts, first deliveries could start by March.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Gareth Jones and
Jan Harvey)
