EU warns pharma companies to honor contractual obligations on Covid-19 vaccines

Meanwhile, the German health ministry has denied reports that the Oxford AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine is only 8 percent effective for older people.  

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: "Europe invested billions to help develop the world's first Covid-19 vaccines to create a truly global common good. And now, the companies must deliver. They must honour their obligations." Picture: Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP

The European Union has warned pharmaceutical giants that develop coronavirus vaccines to honour their contractual obligations after slow deliveries of shots from two companies hampered the rollout in several nations. 

The bloc had already hit out at AstraZeneca, accusing it of failing to guarantee the delivery of vaccines without a valid explanation, and expressed displeasure over delivery delays from Pfizer-BioNTech last week.