Topline
The European Commission is preparing to launch legal action against AstraZeneca for its persistent shortfall in delivering promised doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, Politico and Reuters report, the latest escalation in tensions as the EU struggles with outbreaks fueled by coronavirus variants and safety concerns over vaccines.
Key Facts
Earlier this year, EU officials repeatedly accused the pharma giant of reneging on its contract after it failed to deliver the number of doses set out in its contract, sending just 30% of a promised 100 million doses in the first quarter.
The EU is preparing to sue AstraZeneca over these failures in order to force it to provide the doses set out in its contract, Politico reported, citing five EU diplomats familiar with the matter.
AstraZeneca, which has previously said its contract only requires it to…