The agreement struck today aims to make the vaccine available to other European countries that wish to take part.
The cost is expected to be offset by funding from the governments.
AstraZeneca, an Anglo-Swedish company, recently completed similar agreements with Britain, the United States the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for 700 million doses.
A license also has been agreed with the Serum Institute of India for another one billion doses.
Other companies, including Moderna and Sanofi, are racing to develop and produce a vaccine against the new coronavirus, a step experts say will be crucial to easing restrictions on public life and preventing additional waves of infections.
The Health Ministry reported 11,458 new cases on and 386 deaths, driving the toll of fatalities up to 8884.
India’s total caseload reached 308,993, the four-highest in the world, including more than 150,000 recoveries.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide in late March. India’s caseload jumped by about 100,000 cases in a week, which coincided with the reopening of shopping malls, houses of worship and restaurants.
The sealing of high-risk area comes as Pakistan reported 6472 news cases, the country’s highest single-day total. Pakistan has confirmed a total of 132,405 cases, including 2551 deaths.
Pakistan put its entire population of 220 million under lockdown in March. The government has since eased restrictions, saying it was necessary to save the country’s economy, but it has caused a surge in infections.
Beijing officials said that 45 workers at the Xinfadi market tested positive for the coronavirus, though they showed no symptoms. That was in addition to an earlier announcement of seven people with symptoms, including six who had visited or worked at the market.
Forty environmental samples taken at the market also tested positive, city officials said.
The Xinfadi market, which has 4000 tenants, will be disinfected.
Most of them are in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings and low-income workers who can’t afford to stay home.
The figures released today brought national totals to 12,051 cases and 277 deaths.
Daily coronavirus hospitalisations in Texas have reached a new high for a third time in four days, as state officials continue to loosen restrictions on public activities.
Health officials said Friday that 2166 patients were in Texas hospitals with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. That is 13 more than the previous high reached Wednesday.
Nineteen more COVID-19 deaths also were reported yesterday, bringing the state’s overall toll to 1939.
Officials said almost 2100 new coronavirus infections had been confirmed, bringing the state’s total to 83,680.
The actual number is likely higher because many people have not been tested.
Ukraine has recorded its highest daily count of new coronavirus infections for the third day in a row, more than double the count earlier in the month.
The health ministry on Saturday reported 753 new cases, compared with 683 the previous day.
In early June, Ukraine was recording fewer than 350 new cases a day. Overall, Ukraine counts 30,506 confirmed infection cases and 880 deaths.
Fifty-eight employees in the offices of Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei have tested positive for the virus.
Those who have tested positive include people from administration and security areas. Mr Giammattei says he has been tested multiple times, but always has come out negative.
Guatemala has reported more than 8600 infections and 351 deaths.
Reported with Associated Press.
