Sale of COVID-19 vaccines on parallel and secondary markets in the EU
25.2.2021
Question for written answer E-001134/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Patrizia Toia (S&D), Giuliano Pisapia (S&D), Pierfrancesco Majorino (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Franco Roberti (S&D), Massimiliano Smeriglio (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D)
There have been many reports since December 2020 of doses of COVID-19 vaccine being sold by private suppliers.
Interpol and Europol have already issued warnings of the likelihood of new types of criminal activities emerging in this connection, including the selling-on of stolen, fake or substandard doses and of illegally-refilled vials.
Recently, however, Member State health authorities have been confronted with a new phenomenon: that of seemingly bona fide intermediaries with large volumes of doses they are willing to sell on – including to public bodies – at a price higher than that set in the contracts negotiated for the EU Member States.
Given the great importance of this matter, can the Commission state:
- 1.What strategies the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has adopted or intends to adopt to reduce the risks associated with criminal activities relating to COVID-19 vaccines that are damaging to the EU?
- 2.Whether legally-authorised private sales and exchanges of vaccine doses are taking place in the EU, and whether such activities involve pharmaceutical companies licensed to produce COVID-19 vaccines?