The European Commission has struck a deal with BioNTech-Pfizer to buy up to 1.8 billion additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine, President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Saturday, DW reports.
The deal comes as EU countries ramp up their coronavirus vaccine programs after a shaky start, due to delivery delays.
"Happy to announce that the European Commission has just approved a contract for guaranteed 900 million doses," von der Leyen tweeted.
The deal allows EU states to buy a further 900 million doses.
The new contract also ensures that all the essential components should be sourced from the EU.
The EU is looking to follow up the deal with "other contracts and other vaccine technologies," said von der Leyen.
vaccination is progressing well.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 8, 2021
Now we prepare the next stage in our response:
giving booster shots
dealing with possible escape variants
allowing for vaccination of children & teenagers
