BRUSSELS – The European Union will launch a programme to study Covid-19 variants and produce “second generation” vaccines against future strains, said the bloc’s president.
The “Hera incubator” programme, which begins today, will bring together the pharmaceutical industry, laboratories, health authorities and researchers, Ursula von der Leyen told French daily Les Echos yesterday.
“The virus has evolved, and will continue to evolve,” said a spokesman for the bloc, which has been criticised for its slow roll-out of vaccines.
“It is important we prepare for mutations.”
Member states will also be asked to contribute additional funds so that the EU can adapt and modify contracts already signed with vaccine providers and secure doses against future variants, Bloomberg reported.
The EU Commission did not comment when contacted by AFP.
With delays to deliveries of three already-authorised vaccines by AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, the bloc’s medicines regulator is under pressure from European capitals to speed into service.
United States pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is the latest to apply for authorisation for its coronavirus vaccine in the EU, with a decision possible by the middle of next month, said Europe’s drugs regulator yesterday. – AFP, February 17, 2021
