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While waiting for the EMA to arrive today, the decision of the European Medicines Agency on AstraZeneca, after the suspensions decided by many EU countries, the WHO said yesterday that it believes that the benefits of the Anglo-Swedish vaccine outweigh the risks and he recommends that vaccinations continue. Of course, the serum against the coronavirus does not reduce diseases or deaths from other causes – the statement reads. Venous thromboembolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease in the world. Clear words that give hope to a new green light from the EMA for the vaccine produced by the Anglo-Swedish group.
In the meantime, however, controversy over dose distribution continues. Yesterday, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a press conference, asked the British government to respect the pacts. We are still waiting, he said, for the doses to arrive from the UK. This is an invitation to show that there are also doses that come to the EU from the other side of the Channel, to have reciprocity. It is difficult – he adds – to explain to EU citizens that vaccines produced in the EU are exported to other countries that produce vaccines, while nothing is obtained. The president said she was ready to use all the tools, including export inspections and controls, to ensure that the EU gets what it deserves. So far 41 million doses have been exported from the European Union to 33 countries, 10 million in Britain alone.
Words that British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab did not like at all: The world is watching us and we all know, including our European friends, that it would be a mistake to limit exports (of vaccines and medical supplies) in times of pandemic or interfere with supplies (to other countries) linked to legally valid contracts. Boris Johnson, through his spokesman, recalled that von der Leyen, during an interview with the premier, had ruled out restrictions on companies carrying out their contractual responsibilities. We stick to that principle, he added.
The vaccination campaign in the UK, which started 100 days ago, was successfully carried out: more than 25 million people received the first dose, 1.8 million even the second. But now the National Health Service (NHS) expects a slowdown in supplies in April. For this reason, vaccination of those over 40 may not be carried out as planned. In Italy, so far, just over seven million doses have been administered while fully vaccinated people exceed two million. The rest of Europe is struggling too. The nation is better than Hungary with 14.5% of the population receiving the first injection, while in France 7.8%, in Germany 8.2% and in Finland 11%. Von der Leyen, in fact, underlines the importance of speeding up the vaccination campaign in each Member State. I trust AstraZeneca and its vaccine.
In Brussels, however, they are optimistic. The president estimates that at the end of the second quarter there will be 200 million vaccinated out of a population of 447.7 million. The goal of reaching 70% of immunized citizens by the end of the summer. The goal is not that far.
March 17, 2021 (change March 17, 2021 | 22:23)
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