EU launches advanced Covid-19 vaccine research program to fight mutations
17 February, 2021
The EU will release a programme to study Covid-19 variants and produce "second generation" vaccines against future strains, the bloc's president has said.
The "HERA incubator" programme, which starts Wednesday, will bring together the pharmaceutical industry, laboratories, health authorities and researchers, Ursula von der Leyen told French daily Les Echos on Tuesday.
"The virus offers evolved and will continue steadily to evolve," explained a spokesperson for the bloc - which has been criticised because of its a gradual rollout of vaccines up to now.
"It is vital we plan mutations."
Member states may also be asked to contribute additional cash so the EU may adapt and modify agreements already signed with vaccine services and secure dosages against long term variants, Bloomberg reported.
The EU Commission didn't comment when contacted by AFP.
With delays to deliveries of three already-authorised vaccines by AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, the EU's medications regulator is under pressure from European capitals to acceleration more into service.
US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is the latest to use for authorisation because of its coronavirus vaccine in the EU with a decision possible by the center of March, Europe's drugs regulator said Tuesday.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com