29 million hidden AstraZeneca vaccines found in Italy, discovered after signaling by European Commission

There are about 29 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines hidden after an inspection at a factory in Italy.

Reuters writes that the amount was destined for the EU and for donations to poor countries through the COVAX scheme co-led by the World Health Organization.

The amount of vaccines was discovered after signaling to the Italian authorities by the European Commission.

Italian security forces inspected a Catalent factory in Anagni, near Rome, over the weekend and found a vaccine dosing depot, according to the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

La Stampa writes that the vaccines "were discovered after the visit of Commissioner Thierry Breton to the vaccine production unit in Leiden, the Netherlands, managed by the Halix company".

This company has acquired from AstraZeneca the right to produce vaccines within the EU, but it has not yet been licensed by the EU.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi later confirmed the inspection report and said some of the dose groups were seized while two groups were sent to Belgium.

A flood of reactions to the report reflect the level of distrust in the EU towards the Anglo-Swedish firm, which lowered its EU supply target at the end of June to 100 million from the 300 million provided in its contract with the 27-nation bloc of 29 million doses of the findings would be enough to vaccinate 14.5 million people.

" A reserve of almost 30 million doses was identified near Rome during an inspection we set up. "He has been arrested, " French government spokesman Gabriel Attal told reporters after a cabinet meeting. "

EU lawmaker Peter Liese, from the same party as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said the report left him speechless and he asked AstraZeneca to clarify the situation.

Later Wednesday, AstraZeneca said most doses at the Catalent plant were for the EU and the rest were for poor countries supplied by the COVAX scheme led by the World Health Organization.

" There are currently no exports planned except in the COVAX countries. "There are 13 million doses of vaccines awaiting quality control release to be sent to COVAX ," the company said.

The European Commission declined to comment on the doses at the Anagni plant.