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Gabriel, the EU is way ahead in vaccines
“Europe is way ahead, we will have our own vaccine. We cannot know yet if we will get there first, but we can say that any vaccine that is ready for distribution will first have to be evaluated and cleared by the EMA. For this to happen, completely clear and reliable information and data on efficacy and safety will be needed ”. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Research and Education, said in an interview with Repubblica. “We hope that the first doses of the vaccine will be ready by the end of the year or early 2021,” Gabriel hopes. “We support the production of an effective vaccine, accessible to all citizens of Europe and the rest of the world. The EU Commission has signed a contract with Astra-Zeneca and concluded exploratory talks with BionTech-Pfizer, Sanofi-Gsk, Johnson & Johnson, CureVac and Moderna. We work with tight deadlines, but, he emphasizes, it is equally important not to compromise the reliability and safety of the future vaccine. This is a priority that cannot be waived ”. Regarding the stoppage of the Astra-Zeneca trial, “we are in constant contact with the EMA and it is normal to have suspensions during the clinical trial. In fact, it is important that this happens because, I repeat, the vaccine must be absolutely safe ”. Looking ahead to the coming months, “it is impossible to say that there will be no new blockades, just as it is impossible to predict whether the cold will cause a second pandemic wave. However, with accumulated experience, we know how to limit infections. We must have confidence and move on, “says Gabriel, who asks for caution in cutting the quarantine from 14 to 10 days:” I advise governments to wait to make such decisions because there is still no scientific evidence in this regard. ” (