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The European Commission is drawing up plans for a tender for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, according to people close to the discussions — but it’s unclear if doses will be secured in time for this winter.
Several countries have confirmed to POLITICO that a tender for the joint procurement of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines is being discussed. This contract would run from 2023 through 2026 and would be the first joint procurement of COVID-19 vaccines outside of the pandemic.
As a new cold season emerges — and new adapted vaccines stand ready to begin shipments — some countries want to ensure they have sufficient supplies and choice of vaccines to protect their populations. Case numbers are once again picking up, including in hospital intensive care units.
While previous COVID-19 vaccine joint procurement agreements were awarded on a company by company basis, POLITICO understands that this tender would allow multiple companies to secure the same contract.
Currently, Pfizer/BioNTech is the only mRNA vaccine maker still to hold a valid contract. But the Commission’s controversial decision to lock in 1.1 billion doses of their jab effectively excluded other players from the market, a situation made worse after the deal was renegotiated to spread deliveries into 2027.
That deal has been a source of controversy, both for its size, and for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s personal role in negotiating it, with an alleged exchange of text messages between her and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
Now, the Health Emergency Response and Preparedness Authority (HERA) is reaching out to countries to gauge their interest in buying more mRNA vaccines for their populations.
“We are assessing the needs and interests of the Member States for additional COVID-19 vaccines and should there be the required minimum four Member States interested, the Commission stands ready to launch the procedure,” a spokesperson at the European Commission told POLITICO.
Norway and the Netherlands confirmed to POLITICO the Commission is planning joint procurement of mRNA vaccines through a tender. According to people close to the project, who were granted anonymity to speak about confidential discussions, up to eight countries have given their support and a further two have expressed an interest.
The Commission did not confirm that any joint procurement talks had begun. However the spokesperson said that HERA “would be leading on such a tendering process,” and that the joint procurement agreement (JPA) “would be the tool used.”
“HERA approached Norway and asked if Norway was interested in joining a joint procurement process [for mRNA vaccines],” said Knut Jønsrud, head of the vaccine supply unit at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, who added that Norway has confirmed its interest in joining the agreement.
A spokesperson at the Netherlands’ health ministry confirmed that “options are being explored to purchase mRNA vaccines through a tendering procedure.”
With supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine secured until 2027, it’s not clear whether these companies will bid in the tender, although it would be open to them. POLITICO contacted Pfizer for comment, but did not receive a reply before publication.
That leaves the door open to Moderna, which supplies the only other approved mRNA vaccine for COVID-19. Both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have updated their vaccines to the most recent dominant strain.
Diversifying vaccine portfolios
Earlier this month, CEO Stéphane Bancel, said that adding Moderna’s new XBB.1.5-targeted vaccine to immunization programs would “ensure a diversified portfolio that provides vaccine choice and access to single dose vial formats, which can limit waste.” Moderna’s previous EU contract expired in early 2023.
On Thursday, Emer Cooke, head of the European Medicines Agency, reiterated the need for countries to have a diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines. This “really gives the opportunities for health care systems to choose what works best in their own environment,” she said. That includes a “range of different vaccines — mRNA, protein-based — that provide the European population with the greatest choice and options that we can,” she added.
Experts have called out the need to ensure supply chain resiliency through multiple vaccine manufacturers.
Novavax has a protein-based COVID-19 vaccine and is expecting an EU decision on its XBB.1.5 updated shot the week of October 9. The vaccine will be available to EU countries through its existing EU contract but this will expire by the end of the year, a spokesperson told POLITICO.
The European Commission, HERA and the countries have not confirmed if further COVID-19 vaccine tendering processes are in the works.
