Ref. Ares(2022)7662998 - 07/11/2022
STELLA KYRIAKIDES Rue de la Loi, 200
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION B-1049 Brussels – Berl 10/380
HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY
[email protected]
Brussels, 07 November 2022
Dear Ministers,
Thank you for your joint letter concerning the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. These are
extraordinary times and I fully understand the pressure you are operating under.
As you know, over the past few months our Vaccine Steering Board has been negotiating
with the pharmaceutical companies to bring supply closer to actual demand and I am pleased
to see that these negotiations are bearing fruit. Vaccine deliveries have been deferred
towards the end of 2022 and been replaced with adapted vaccines, a central warehouse has
been established and concrete solutions are being discussed for 2023 and beyond. These
efforts will continue, always in the closest possible cooperation with your authorities.
At the same time, it is important to remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over.
Our vaccine contracts are an insurance policy for European citizens. Indeed, should the
epidemiological situation deteriorate – for example, through the emergence of a new and
significantly deadlier variant – our citizens will have priority access to the vital supplies of
adapted vaccines, and the life-saving protection they confer.
Furthermore, and as you rightly mention in your letter, we have made contractual
commitments which we cannot simply rescind, or not renegotiate without the agreement of
the companies involved.
Together we must continue to work diligently with the producers to find ways to address
remaining issues, and I will be pleased to provide you with a full update at the Health
Council on 9 December. In the meantime, HERA will keep your representatives in the
Vaccines Steering Board fully updated on progress.
The EU Vaccine Strategy as saved million of lives. This is our shared success and I am
convinced, that by continuing to act in unity and coordination, we will find the best possible
solutions for the years to come.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Asen Medzhidiev Minister of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria
Vili Beroš Minister of Health Republic of Croatia
Peep Peterson, Minister of Health and Labour, Republic of Estonia
Sándor Pintér, Minister of Interior of Hungary
Daniels Pavļuts, Minister for Health of the Republic of Latvia
Arunas Dulkys, Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
Adam Niedzielski, Minister of Health, Republic of Poland
Alexandru Rafila, Minister of Health of Romania
Vladimír Lengvarský, Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic
Danijel Bešič Loredan, Minister of Health Republic of Slovenia
Electronically signed on 07/11/2022 12:40 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121