The European Commission has approved a contract for 1.8 billion doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.

The contract covers 900 million guaranteed doses as well as 900 million "options" for distribution between 2021 and 2023. 

"At a certain point in time, we might need booster jabs to reinforce and prolong immunity; and if escape-variants occur, we will need to develop vaccines that are adapted to new variants; and we will need them early and in sufficient quantities," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier in an announcement. "Having this in mind we need to focus on technologies that have proven their worth. mRNA vaccines are a clear case in point."

Other contracts and other vaccine technologies will follow", she adds.

Europe Commission is preparing for the next stage vaccination, to include booster shots for dealing with "possible escape variants," but also vaccinating children and teenagers. The progress shows that the  EU is more inclined toward mRNA vaccines.