On March 29, 2021, the FCO cleared the way for full-line pharmaceutical wholesalers’ participation in the VCI Emergency Platform for Vaccination Equipment (“Emergency Platform”).[1]

The Emergency Platform was launched in February 2021 with the FCO’s approval to better coordinate the supply of vaccination equipment such as syringes, cannulas, and NaCl-solution among the German states and manufacturers to prevent shortages or misallocation of equipment. The Emergency Platform does not provide details on prices or supply quantities.

As of the second quarter of 2021, the federal government plans for pharmaceutical wholesalers, together with pharmacies, to organize the supply of the COVID-19 vaccines and related equipment to physicians making it appropriate to grant wholesalers access to the Emergency Platform.

[1] See the FCO’s Press Release of March 29, 2021, available in English here and in German here.