Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

22.3.2024

Member States are the legal owners of the COVID-19 vaccines procured through (advance) purchase agreements concluded by the Commission on behalf of the Member States with vaccine manufacturers.

They are responsible for overseeing the management of their national stockpiles. Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to provide figures on the volume of stockpiles and the associated costs.

The maintenance of strategic stockpiles in Member States has been necessary to ensure access to sufficient vaccine doses to protect citizens in light of the considerable uncertainty over the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19.

This included ensuring access to vaccines adapted to the virus evolution when they became available.