Reuters said. "The decision has not been made," Agnes Pannier-Runacher told BFM television. "But we have not initiated discussions with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson for a new contract." The minister said it was unlikely the EU would sign new contracts with the two companies.The Italian newspaper La Stampa reported earlier that the EU was set to end the contracts when they expire at the end of this year.
Both vaccines are based on a viral vector technology, a method to make vaccines which is now under investigation for rare, serious side-effects.The European Commission earlier sought clarification from J&J about the company's "completely unexpected" announcement of delays in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the EU, an EU official told.