The European Union is strengthening its preparedness for a potential flu pandemic. A new joint procurement contract, signed by the European Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, offers 17 countries the possibility to purchase up to 27,403,200 pandemic influenza vaccine doses.
The agreement, concluded with pharmaceutical company Seqirus UK Ltd., secures supplies of Foclivia, a vaccine to protect against flu when a pandemic has been officially declared by the World Health Organization or the European Union. A flu pandemic occurs when a new type (strain) of flu virus spreads easily from person to person because people have no immunity against it.
While it is difficult to predict an influenza pandemic, the joint procurement framework contract is part of the Commission’s wider work on strengthening EU-level preparedness and response to protect the health of citizens.
This joint procurement builds on a previous agreement signed with CSL Seqirus in 2019 and an agreement signed with GSK in 2022 under which participating countries can purchase vaccine doses in the event of an influenza pandemic.
The framework contract is concluded for 48 months. It can be further renewed two times for 12 months each.
