Greece is set to receive 3 million doses of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with AstraZeneca, the Minister of Health Vassilis Kikilias said on Tuesday.
The announcement follows the agreement by the European Union and AstraZeneca to buy at least 300 million doses of the vaccine. The European Commission, which has been negotiating on behalf of all 27 EU member states, said the deal included an option to purchase 100 million additional doses from the British drug-maker should its vaccine prove safe and effective.
In a message on twitter EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the agreement and said the EU is committed to “safeguard the health of Europeans and our partners.”
We deliver on our promises.@EU_Commission concluded first agreement on purchase of up to 400 million doses of future @AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19.
We’re committed to safeguard the health of Europeans & our global partners #StrongerTogether https://t.co/HvtW9NVAHa pic.twitter.com/4WvXwSgVqf
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 14, 2020
Speaking to SKAI TV, Kikilias said that Greece will receive its 700,000 doses in late December and the rest will be delivered on a monthly basis.
Kikilas also announced that Greece has secured 4.2 million doses of the flu vaccine. The Minister of Health explained that the vaccinations will start in early October, with priority given to vulnerable groups.
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