The Sohn Tagzeitung newspaper reported that AstraZeneca had stopped distributing a nasal flu vaccine in Switzerland due to a price dispute with health officials.
Swiss authorities contacted the company in 2020 about plans to provide the vaccine to all children between the ages of two and 11, Bloomberg News reported today.
The Federal Health Office now plans to only vaccinate high-risk patients and children who are afraid of injections, at a maximum price of 16.90 francs ($17.95) per dose, the paper said.
Officials reported this to the company in early October, shortly before the first batch of doses was due to be delivered.
The Federal Health Administration said authorities have not found a “repayment solution” with the manufacturer.
AstraZeneca has agreed to supply 50,000 doses at 22.20 francs each, Catherine de Vos, head of the Swiss company’s division, told the newspaper.
She added that offering a vaccine in small quantities is not financially viable.
The newspaper said the company wants to donate the 10,000 doses that have already been delivered to children’s hospitals and clinics, rather than leave them before their expiration date.
