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 The British drugmaker signed a contract with European governments at
the weekend to supply the region with up to 400 million doses of its
potential vaccine.
It was the first contract signed by Europe's Inclusive Vaccines
Alliance (IVA), a group formed by France, Germany, Italy and the
Netherlands to secure vaccine doses for all member states as soon as
possible.
"The principle of the deal is that the vaccines will be distributed
pro rata, based on population," the source at the French president's
office said. "What we've asked for and what has been agreed is for
production to take place in Europe."
France hopes to strike similar deals with other pharmaceuticals
companies soon, the source added.
The vaccines - still in clinical trials - would be for all EU member
states.
Governments have been scrambling to secure advance purchases of
promising coronavirus immunisation treatments amid concerns within
the EU that the bloc has not moved fast enough compared with other
regions or countries.
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In France, Sanofi's call in May for a more collaborative European
effort in the hunt for a vaccine sparked a backlash, especially
after the French drugmaker's CEO said doses produced in the United
States, which had rapidly rolled out funding for research, would go
to U.S. patients first.
Sanofi Chief Executive Paul Hudson later tempered his comments,
emphasising that any coronavirus vaccine would reach all parts of
the world.
Macron is due to visit a Sanofi Pasteur vaccine plant in France on
Tuesday and will announce commitments on treatments and
manufacturing capacities alongside the company, the source at the
President's office said.
(Reporting by Michel Rose and Matthias Blamont; Writing by Sarah
White; Editing by David Goodman)
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