Astra Zeneca Boss: We work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The head of Astra Zeneca defended the pace at which the company is distributing its coronavirus vaccine amidst tensions during its delivery with EU member states.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper “Republic”, quoting the BBC, CEO Pascal Sorio said, “The team works 24 hours a week, 7 days a week to fix many problems with vaccine production.” Two months behind is what we wanted. “Sorio also stressed that the EU’s late decision to sign a contract with Astra Zeneca limited time to solve supply problems, such as two plants in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The company’s factory in North Wales was evacuated on Wednesday after receiving a suspicious package. Sappers were called to the scene. According to local media, a controlled explosion occurred right next to the buildings, where vaccine supplements are produced and stored.

Sorio said, “The treaty with Britain was first signed in London and certainly ‘first deliverance for us’ and it is justified,” three months later, when the EU supplies at the same time as Britain Wanted to get Astra Zeneca “failed to make such a commitment.”

“Our contract with the European Union is not a contractual commitment. It is the best effort.” In theory, we said that we would try to do everything possible, but we could not guarantee that we would succeed, “said Sorio .

The Astra Zeneca is already in use in the UK, but has not yet been approved by the European Union, although the European Medical Agency is expected to deliver the green light at the end of this month, with an EU order of 300 million of the vaccines. The dose is likely another 100 million. In a statement on Wednesday, the pharmaceutical company said it would distribute “tens of millions of doses” in February and March, as the vaccine has been approved for use in the European Union. “Would I like to do better? Definitely. Sorio said,” But you know if we plan in February the volume doesn’t get smaller. We plan to deliver millions in Europe. “

The company has built more than a dozen regional supply chains to produce the vaccine, working with more than 20 partners in more than 15 countries.

“As each supply chain is designed to meet the needs of a specific agreement, the vaccine produced by any supply chain is targeted in the respective countries or regions and uses local production where possible. . “

Astra is also working on a new vaccine targeting the South African version of Zeneca coronovirus, as scientists have warned that the strain could harm the effectiveness of current vaccines. The development is again in partnership with the University of Oxford.

Meanwhile, the United States has said it will order an additional 200 million doses of Pfizer and modern vaccines in sufficient quantities for all Americans by the end of summer.