An employee of German biopharmaceutical company CureVac demonstrates the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine research workflow at a laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany March 12, 2020. Picture taken March 12, 2020 .REUTERS/Andreas Gebert/File photo

BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) – Germany plans to spend up to 2.861 billion euros ($3.14 billion) to ensure COVID-19 vaccine makers have the capacity to sufficient production to supply the country with vaccines in future epidemics until 2029, the economy ministry said. .

The German cabinet on Wednesday approved plans to sign contracts with BioNTech (22UAy.DE), CureVac/GSK (5CV.DE), (GSK.L), Wacker/CordenPharma, Celonic and IDT, the ministry said in a statement. .

The contracts will maintain the increased production capacities created during the coronavirus pandemic by paying an annual standby fee, ensuring that enough vaccine can be produced quickly for the population.

“We have learned from the coronavirus pandemic and the initial vaccine shortage: With these contracts, we are securing the production and supply of vaccines for years to come and taking precautions for German citizens,” the minister said. of Economics Robert Habeck.

The contracts give the government rights of access to companies’ production capacities if the coronavirus pandemic persists or if a new pandemic breaks out, and contain provisions stipulating the supply and production of vaccines for the government.

The next step is to sign pandemic preparedness agreements with the five companies, according to the economy ministry.

($1 = 0.9106 euros)

Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Emma Thomasson and Maria Sheahan

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