European Union officials said Friday they had agreed with AstraZeneca to end an EU lawsuit against the company in exchange for it meeting its promise to deliver 300 million Covid-19 vaccine doses by March.
The agreement should resolve a public conflict between the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, and the British-Swedish drugmaker over delayed vaccine supplies. Delivery shortfalls in the winter and spring slowed the EU’s planned rollout of its vaccine campaign and led to friction between the U.K., which was receiving AstraZeneca’s vaccines on time, and the EU.
Friday’s agreement is based on the original volume of 300 million doses in the EU contract but gives AstraZeneca seven more months to meet the target. It also includes new, potentially punitive compensation from AstraZeneca if it falls behind the extended schedule.
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