Commission signs joint procurement contract for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure preparedness and protection of citizens ahead of the 2025-2026 winter season

On 3 October, the European Commission signed on the request of 14 participating countries a joint procurement framework contract with the Spanish pharmaceutical company HIPRA. 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 vaccines ready for delivery in time for the current vaccination season.

Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: “With COVID-19 cases and new variants emerging, protection against these viruses is essential, especially for the most vulnerable. With today’s joint procurement, we are enhancing our preparedness and securing a supply of 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 and diversifying our portfolio of vaccines. We are committed to reinforcing our health security for a safer, healthier and better protected Europe.” 

While mRNA vaccines are already available, this joint procurement contract diversifies the portfolio to citizens by offering protein-based vaccines. 

HIPRA’s vaccine, which has recently received Marketing Authorization from the European Commission after demonstrating that it generates immunity against the LP.8.1 variant and cross-protection against other emerging sublineages such as NB.1.8.1 and XFG, is ready for distribution in single-dose vials and can be stored between 2 °C and 8 °C with a 12-month shelf life.

This type of vaccine contains fragments of a protein that is unique to the virus. These are enough for the person’s immune system to recognise that the unique protein should not be in the body and responds by producing natural defences against infection by COVID-19.

An added benefit of today’s agreement with HIPRA is that its R&D, production and fill and finish are all located in Europe. This strengthens Member States’s strategic autonomy by shortening the supply chain and reducing reliance on third countries for production and export.

As of April 2025, 38 countries have signed the ‘Joint Procurement Agreement’, a mechanism at the EU level to jointly procure medical countermeasures on a voluntary and flexible basis. This mechanism contributes to EU-level preparedness for public health crises or pandemics.

More information can be found online.