The Debate - Europe Coronavirus Pandemic

The European Union and British based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca have become embroiled in a fierce row over the supply of coronavirus vaccines. The European Commission says that the Anglo-Swedish firm is not honoring its contract to provide a specific number of shots. AstraZeneca has said it will not be able to deliver as many vaccines to the EU as initially hoped because of a production glitch, a claim disputed by the EU. The company announced the initial deliveries would be approximately 31 million doses, far less than the anticipated 80 million. To make things more complicated the EU confirmed new bans on certain vaccine exports from the continent to cover the supply shortages. Blocking the shipment of vaccines made within Europe will most likely cause a broader disruption of vaccine supplies not just for the UK but for numerous countries around the world.