The European Commission on Wednesday informed that it had concluded preliminary talks with the French Valneva biotech company, specialised in developing and commercializing vaccines for infectious diseases, on the procurement of its potential vaccine against COVID-19.

The Commission will purchase 30 million doses with the option of purchasing up to 30 million more doses.

The EC has already concluded contracts for the procurement of vaccines from six different producers two of which have already been approved for use.

Preliminary talks have also been concluded with Novavax, the US vaccine development company.

“The continuing COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and around the globe makes it more important than ever that all Member States have access to the broadest possible portfolio of vaccines to help protect people in Europe and beyond,” said President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen as carried on the EU web site.