Covid-19 vaccines will start on December 27 in the EU

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The EU will begin Covid-19 inoculations on December 27, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“It is time for Europe. On December 27, 28 and 29 vaccination will begin throughout the EU,” he tweeted.

Ms Von der Leyen had previously called for a coordinated start of vaccinations on the same day in all 27 EU countries.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said an expert panel will meet Monday to evaluate the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. It has not yet been approved for use in the EU.

Deliveries will begin on December 26 from vaccine production sites in Belgium and Germany, but the Commission said it would be up to each of the 27 EU states to organize and coordinate their own vaccination programs.

The EU is carrying out a coordinated vaccination program in its 27 member states to ensure fair access to doses.

Member states will decide who has priority for injections, but the elderly and healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients will be at the forefront of the queues.

Italy’s Health Ministry said it hopes to start vaccinating on December 27.

Italy is set to receive 1.83 million initial doses from Pfizer. The first vaccines will be administered to healthcare workers, according to a statement.

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The European Commission has signed contracts with seven suppliers of potential vaccines to ensure that all adult EU citizens can ultimately be vaccinated.

Preliminary talks between the EU and the US firm Novavax have concluded with an agreement to secure up to 200 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine.

“The envisaged contract provides for the possibility for member states to purchase 100 million doses with the option to buy another 100 million doses,” said an EU spokesman.

Britain and the United States are already vaccinating people with the vaccine under national emergency authorizations.



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