After a mutual agreement reached between BioNTech-Pfizer and the European Union Commission, four million additional COVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed among the Member States in the next two weeks.

The decision was taken for the purpose of addressing critical areas dealing with Coronavirus and helping free border movement, StudyinPoland.Info reports.

“I’m happy to announce today an agreement with BioNTech-Pfizer, who will offer to the Member States to make available a total of four million doses of vaccines before the end of March which will be supplied in addition to the planned dose deliveries,” the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said.

President von der Leyen added that the Commission’s support would help the Member States to contain the virus from spreading and also control new variants. Targeting the vaccines where they are needed most, especially in border regions, will help free movement of people and goods, she added.

The Commission reported that they are closely monitoring the growth of the Coronavirus pandemic in the Member States.

Even though there is a reduced number of deaths across the European Union due to the vaccination of elders and more sensitive people, the Commission is worried about the growth of  Coronavirus cases in critical areas in the EU, taking into account the spread of new variants.

Regions in Austria, France, Italy, Germany, and other Member States are experiencing significant amounts of hospitalizations and infections during the past weeks, making the Member States adopt harsher measures and apply internal border controls.

The Commission made negotiations with BioNTech-Pfizer to make it possible for Member Countries to order additional doses in order to help them with the current epidemiological situation.

Since the manufacturing capacities in Europe that were finalized in mid-February have been enlarged, dose deliveries will intensify during March.

The Commission asserted that the Member States would be able to purchase four million doses proportionally to their population. The doses are expected to be delivered by the end of March.

StudyinPoland.Info reported last year that all visa applicants and those wishing to travel to the Schengen Area might be required to be vaccinated and present a negative COVID-19 test.

Additionally, some European Union Member States are already asking for vaccination certificates to make it possible for those vaccinated people to travel across the Schengen Area freely.

Some of the countries that plan to permit restriction-free entry for individuals introducing vaccination certificates include Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.