8/12/2023 0 Comments Pfizer secret government contracts![]() “My problem is that I can’t scrutinise negotiators,” regrets Mohammed Chahim, a Dutch MEP on the Health Committee. But most remained anonymous, bar Bergström for Sweden and César Hernandez for Spain. When the European Commission was tasked with vaccine procurement on behalf of the bloc, a Joint Negotiation Team of seven delegates was appointed by member states. ![]() Such details are precious to understand proceedings that have been shrouded in opacity. Richard Bergström | Photo courtesy of EHFG “It’s an all-inclusive price for the next two years and we think that was a very good deal,” says Bergström. The new terms include jabs for children as well as updates to tackle future variants. ![]() “We’re not paying those prices.” The agreements were struck in May and June for a total of up to 2.1 billion shots until 2023. Under this rule, “the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines should cost more than $100 per dose, that was the view of the markets and the analysts,” justifies Bergström, who has been negotiating vaccines on behalf of the EU. “We are getting a good deal”īut Richard Bergström, vaccine coordinator for the Swedish Government, told Investigate Europe that medicines are always priced based on value rather than manufacturing costs. The markup for each shot would thus be over 794% for Moderna and over 1,838% for Pfizer. This assessment rests on a study by Imperial College London showing that mRNA jabs could be mass-produced for as little as $1.18 to $2.85. Overall, the EU may have overpaid €31 billion for doses, according to the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of more than 70 humanitarian organisations. Similarly, a dose of Moderna costs $25.50 (€21.60), up from $22.50 in the first deal, although down from $28.50 in the second. Documents seen by the Financial Times revealed that Pfizer’s vaccine now fetches €19.50 against €15.50 previously. One year after Gallina’s promise, two of the four manufacturers supplying the EU have inflated their prices. Little did she know that her fixed cap would crumble under pressure from jabmakers. “We cannot go beyond certain limits because it wouldn’t be affordable,” she told the Health Committee. Doses would cost between €5 and €15, Sandra Gallina assured members of the European Parliament. In September 2020, the EU Commission’s top vaccine negotiator made a pledge. ![]() Promoting vaccines as a public global good was shelved during the first procurement round.New variants, international competition and darkness around manufacturing costs have allowed Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna to increase the bill for European taxpayers.Deals for doses happen behind closed doors between the EU and pharmaceutical companies. ![]()
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