The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed, on the request and on behalf of 14 participating countries, a joint procurement framework contract with HIPRA, the Spanish pharmaceutical company expert in vaccines and prevention. The participating countries will be able to order up to 4 million doses of the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine BIMERVAX®, adapted to the LP.8.1 variant, as needed depending on national context and with no minimum number of doses to be bought. The contract will run for a period of up to two years, with deliveries of the vaccines in time for the current vaccination season. 

Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: “With a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases of the so-called “Frankenstein” variant, we need to ensure that continued protection against this disease is assured, especially to protect the most vulnerable. With a diversified portfolio of vaccines, now including access to up to 4 million doses of this protein-based vaccine, we are enhancing our preparedness and securing a supply of such necessary medical countermeasures against the ever-present threat of COVID-19. This vaccine from HIPRA follows an end-to-end approach, from R&D to production, located entirely in Europe, strengthening our strategic autonomy. We are committed to reinforcing our health security for a safer, healthier and better protected Europe.”