Up until a few years ago, the State Serum Institute (SSI) was tasked with government vaccine production in Denmark.
But in 2016, production was controversially sold off to a capital fund controlled by the Saudi Arabian ‘Aljomaih Group’ for 15 million kroner.
Now, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, some Danish politicians are up in arms over the loss of control over vaccine production.
READ ALSO: State under fire for selling vaccine production to Saudi company
Critical infrastructure
Head of Socialistisk Folkeparti, Pia Olsen Dyhr, is among those calling for vaccine production to be returned to Danish hands.
“It’s critical infrastructure, and we should not depend on private interests controlling it,” she told DR Nyheder.
“We are so dependent on being able to import it … when everyone demands it, we will be hugely vulnerable in Denmark.”