Italy is reportedly blocking the export of a shipment of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines to Australia for failing to deliver the promised doses to the European Union.
Two sources said Reuters for a report published on Thursday that the decision is supported by the European Commission.
AstraZeneca wanted Italy to send 250,000 doses of vaccine to Australia from a plant near Rome, sources told Reuters. But the The EU has given countries the right to block the shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, after disputes arose because the company could not reach the promised amount of vaccine doses.
Back in January, AstraZeneca has cut its previously promised cut 80 million doses up to 31 million. The reduction came at a time when the EU is already being accused of having a slow vaccination.
In response, the European Commission has told countries that they are allowed to ship the vaccine.
The Hill released AstraZeneca for further comment.
Countries are rushing to vaccinate their population, as vaccination is seen as the key to reopening businesses and returning to the pre-pandemic economic conditions.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has not yet been approved for use in the US. The three vaccines currently available in America are from drug manufacturers Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and recently Johnson & Johnson.