Brussels is demanding that AstraZeneca hands over doses of its Covid-19 vaccines from British plants to make up for the shortfall in its own vaccine deliveries.

In a new twist to the blistering row between the EU and the pharma giant, Brussels chiefs are claiming that AstraZeneca should honour its contract by finding vaccine supplies from other factories.

At a news conference today, the EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said that UK factories – which have not experienced problems – were part of its deal with the company and had to deliver.