EU anger over delayed Pfizer vaccine deliveries
17th January, 2021 12:02:16
Several EU countries are receiving significantly fewer doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine than expected, after the US firm slowed shipments, reports BBC.
Six nations called the situation “unacceptable” and warned it “decreases the credibility of the vaccination process”.
Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia urged the EU to apply pressure on Pfizer-BioNTech. Pfizer said the reduced deliveries were a temporary issue.
In a statement on Friday, the drugmaker said shipments were being affected by changes to its manufacturing processes designed to boost production.
“Although this will temporarily impact shipments in late January to early February, it will provide a significant increase in doses available for patients in late February and March,” Pfizer said.
The Norway Medicines Agency (Statens Legemiddelverk Norway) has warned that those over 80 and the terminally ill may be at risk of fatal side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine, after deaths were recorded among elderly individuals in Norway shortly after receiving the inoculation.
Norway warns of vaccination risks for sick patients aged over 80
Norway warns of vaccination risks for sick patients aged over 80
Of 29 cases of potential side-effects investigated by Norwegian authorities, almost three-quarters were in people aged 80 years or older, the country’s regulator said in a report on 14 January. Text Size:
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Oslo: Norway said Covid-19 vaccines may be too risky for the very old and terminally ill, the most cautious statement yet from a European health authority as countries assess the real-world side effects of the first shots to gain approval.
Norwegian officials said 23 people had died in the country a short time after receiving their first dose of the vaccine. Of those deaths, 13 have been autopsied, with the results suggesting that common side effects may have contributed to severe reactions in frail, elderly people, according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency.
Coronavirus: EU anger over delayed Pfizer vaccine deliveries
BBC
16th January, 2021 12:04:55
Several EU countries are receiving significantly fewer doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine than expected, after the US firm slowed shipments.
Six nations called the situation unacceptable and warned it decreases the credibility of the vaccination process .
Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia urged the EU to apply pressure on Pfizer-BioNTech.
Pfizer said the reduced deliveries were a temporary issue.
In a statement on Friday, the drugmaker said shipments were being affected by changes to its manufacturing processes designed to boost production. Although this will temporarily impact shipments in late January to early February, it will provide a significant increase in doses available for patients in late February and March, Pfizer said.
Although
this will temporarily affect shipments in late January to early February, it means there will be a significant increase in the number of doses available for patients in late February and March,” said Pfizer, adding that “these changes in the process and facilities to increase production
will require additional regulatory approvals,” but did not specify which ones.
The temporary reduction in doses will affect all European countries. Norway, for example, will receive 36,075 doses instead of 43,786 which is a reduction of 17.78%.
Spain receives around 350,000 doses from Pfizer every Monday, according to the Ministry of Health. If a reduction in doses similar to Norway is applied, it could mean 62,230 fewer doses and