Debate: Transparency of the Purchase as well as the Access to COVID- vaccinations
Date: THURSDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2020
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

Now until we have found a sustainable solution, we have all agreed at least that the coronavirus affects each and every day of our lives. And until we have found a sustainable solution it will continue to impact on our societies, on our economies and on the everyday way we live. So a safe, effective and affordable vaccine, universally accessible, is a crucial exit to the pandemic. I also believe that we share the vision that we want what is best for our citizens. We want them to have the vaccine as soon as possible and under the best possible conditions.  Now to do so – and I want to be clear because I have heard questions on the negotiations from several Members and I need to answer them. First of all, Member States had to organise with the Commission a new process. We presented a vaccine strategy a few months ago. I want to assure you that we’re following both EU law and the vaccine strategy, and Member States have been part of this constant negotiation process so that we would be as inclusive as possible from the very beginning.  It is important that we all understand that this way of working, with and for 27 Member States, fully guarantees both accountability and compliance with the rules that protect the interests of those involved, but in doing so we must also respect the rules on what information can be made public and what has to remain protected. And more crucially, we need to work together to deliver a lasting and decisive solution for our citizens.  There were questions on liability. I will repeat what I said in my opening remarks: that the agreements with the vaccine developers do not change or derogate from EU legislation and rules on liability.  There were questions on when a vaccine will be available, how will citizens know about this. Well first of all, let us be clear, we are still not at the point when any company has submitted for market authorisation to the European Medicines Agency. You have seen with us that along the phase of clinical trials you can have twists and turns. So I think we have to be cautious about saying when a vaccine will be available and when it would reach citizens. We have spoken of best case scenarios for the end of this year or the beginning of the next, but again I follow what Véronique Trillet-Lenoir also said: that we have to be very cautious in our communication with citizens. Véronique Trillet-Lenoir also spoke about the need for prioritisation, which citizens will be vaccinated first, and I wanted to share with you that we have been working on this with the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention) and we’ve already shared with Member States which groups, what prioritisation they should look at. But of course all Member States will be doing this according to their own situation on the ground.  In terms of rapid tests, which were mentioned, and antigen tests, we have been looking at this with the ECDC for the last few weeks and we hope to come out with guidance next week for the settings of rapid tests. On tests of therapeutics – this was also mentioned and you’re absolutely right – we haven’t taken our eyes off therapeutics for the last eight months. I have had weekly calls with the European Medicines Agency and with the ECDC every day for over eight months now and we follow every single development as it comes out on therapeutics.  In terms of efficacy: until we have a safe and effective vaccine that has actually been submitted for authorisation and we have the independent scientific assessment by the European Medicines Agency, I think it is too early to start now hypothesising whether this vaccine will be used for the young, the old, for prevention. We will know that once we have a safe and effective vaccine.  But what I can assure you of is that we are leaving no stone unturned in order to be able to ensure that we have a result as quickly as possible. And because speed often creates concern, why so quickly? Well, we are in a time when the whole world is investing in this research but also there are now different technologies which allow us to move much more quickly for this. I heard from the Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Pascal Canfin, about the importance of trust. He’s absolutely correct in this, and it’s important that we know that transparency creates trust and trust is key. We’ve heard your concerns about transparency and what I can tell you is that within the contractual constraints, we are ready to explore making information about the contracts available to nominated Members of the Parliament, with specific arrangements, once the sensitive ongoing negotiations are concluded.  So let us move forwards together. We need your support in the roll-out of vaccines in your Member States and in building trust in the solution that citizens expect from us.