EU Faces New Vaccine Challenges After AstraZeneca Reported Vaccine Shortage

AstraZeneca’s reputation has already suffered greatly as several countries have stopped vaccinating the vaccine for fear of blood clots. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no reason not to use this vaccine to fight a pandemic.

Mass vaccination is considered a key factor in the fight against a pandemic that has already cost more than 2.6 million people worldwide. lives. Furthermore, AstraZeneca’s announcement of a vaccine shortage is another blow to EU leaders, who are already coming under fire for stalling vaccines on the continent, which has been hit hard by the virus.

AstraZeneca is disappointed to report a shortage of COVID-19 to be delivered to the European Union … despite the company’s continued efforts to expedite delivery, the company said on Saturday.

It previously reported that lower-than-expected production volumes will lead to a shortage of vaccines in the European supply chain. AstraZeneca later said it was confident of closing the gap by taking vaccines from its global network.

“Unfortunately, export restrictions will reduce the volume of vaccines delivered in the first quarter and may affect deliveries in the second quarter,” the company said.

AstraZeneca vaccines are among the cheapest, accounting for a large proportion of vaccines shipped to poorer countries under the WHO-backed Covax initiative, which aims to ensure a balanced distribution of vaccines throughout the world. world.

Supply problems have contributed to the difficulties AstraZeneca already faces. Several countries, including Denmark, Norway and Iceland, have stopped using the vaccine for fear that one of its side effects is the formation of blood clots.

WHO has previously stated that its Advisory Committee on Vaccines is reviewing safety data. However, the organization emphasizes that there is currently no causal link between this vaccine and clots. The pharmaceutical company itself also claims that the vaccine is safe.

Constant threat

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide is already approaching 120 million, even though several countries around the world are implementing vaccination programs and have introduced social distance and movement restrictions to combat COVID-19.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex does not rule out the possibility of a new quarantine in the region where Paris is located. He called the current situation “walking with a razor blade.”

And the German Agency for Disease Control has already warned that “the third [pandemijos] wave “.

Italy announced last Friday that new restrictions are being introduced in the country: schools, restaurants, shops and museums are closing in many regions.

In Africa, Tunisia and Ethiopia announced on Saturday the launch of vaccination programs. Recently, there has been a significant increase in infections in Ethiopia.

Vaccination against the coronavirus is seen as a critical step in reviving the global economy, which has been hit hard by the pandemic because people are unable to travel and are forced to stay at home. Millions of people have lost their jobs in the world’s largest economy, the United States, and those unable to work from home have been forced to balance the risk of infection with the need to make ends meet.

Singapore-Australia travel bubble

Following the launch of a highly criticized vaccination program, the United States began vaccinating its population. The country’s Centers for Drug Prevention and Control say 100 million have already been injected. vaccine dose. This is just under a third of the doses used worldwide.

American airports, meanwhile, have already spoken of signs of recovery. US airports received just over $ 1.35 million on Friday. passengers – at most since March 15 of last year, according to data from the Transportation Security Administration.

And hopes for a recovery in international travel have fueled news that Australian and Singaporean officials will form the so-called travel bubble in early July, allowing travelers between the two countries to escape quarantine.

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