EU will not renew AstraZeneca and J&J contracts after they expire

The European Commission will not renew its contracts with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson for the supply of Covid-19 vaccine doses once they expire.

A source at the Italian Health Ministry reportedly told local newspaper La Stampa that Brussels will be focusing on vaccines using messenger RNA (mRNA) such as those from Pfizer and Moderna.

Following a review of the AstraZeneca shot by the European Medicines Agency, many EU member states had already temporarily halted its use.

And on 12 April, the US Food and Drug Administration told states to temporarily stop administering the J&J jab following six cases of blood-clotting among patients.

That head left the EU grappling with supply problems surrounding the two providers and Brussels seeking clarification on J&J’s "completely unexpected" announcement of delays on its scheduled deliveries of Covid-19 vaccine doses to the bloc, a source told Reuters.