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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 November 2020

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

Questions (169)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

169. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the EU deal for 300 million Covid-19 vaccine doses; if he will report on the dose supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37200/20]

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Written answers

Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. BioNTech/Pfizer is one of the vaccine suppliers that the Commission has negotiated with. 

On 11 November, the European Commission approved an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with a pharmaceutical company, BioNTech-Pfizer, which provides for the initial purchase of 200 million doses on behalf of all EU Member States, plus an option to purchase up to a further 100 million doses, to be supplied once a vaccine has proven to be safe and effective against COVID-19. Ireland will be entitled to a pro rata share of these. The EU has also concluded APAs with AstraZeneca, Sanofi-Pasteur and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson). 

While a number of media reports have pointed to the potential for a high degree of efficacy in relation to some of these vaccines, no vaccine for COVID-19 has yet been approved for use and usage of any vaccine is condition on their receipt of market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency.

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