Coronavirus
EU to provide vaccines for Western Balkan frontline healthcare workers
The EU will provide 651,000 COVID-19 jabs from its joint procurement for frontline healthcare workers in the six partner countries in the Western Balkans, the European Commission announced on Tuesday (20 April). The announcement comes after China and Russia distributed...
Spain expects to have its own COVID-19 vaccine ready this year
Spain expects to launch a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the year, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who described Spanish pharmaceutical firm Hipra's vaccine candidate as one of Europe's most promising to end the pandemic, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Greece to allow vaccinated tourists in next week
Greece plans to open its borders to vaccinated visitors from several countries from next week, the government said Thursday (15 April), as the country seeks to restart its badly-hit tourism sector.
Belgium looks towards ‘cautious’ relaxations, with hospitality sector to open on 8 May
Belgium's Consultation Committee on Wednesday (14 April) decided to 'cautiously' loosen certain COVID-19 restrictions, including lifting a travel ban, reopening outdoor terraces for the hospitality sector and extending social bubbles.
The Brief, powered by FACEBOOK – Hold your horses
A crowd running from water cannons. An accredited journalist refused entry. The roar of police helicopters above a horde of shielded officers. Riderless horses roaming the streets. You’d be forgiven for thinking this was a scene from an uprising. But...
Denmark drops AstraZeneca vaccine for good, in European first
Denmark announced Tuesday (13 April) it would stop using the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine altogether, becoming the first European country to do so over suspected rare but serious side effects.
Germany to give different second jab to AstraZeneca recipients under 60
People aged under 60 who have been given a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in Germany will receive a different jab for their second dose, federal and regional health ministers agreed Tuesday (13 April).
EU worried by J&J vaccine ‘following AstaZeneca’s path’
The European Commission is seeking clarification from Johnson & Johnson about the company's "completely unexpected" announcement of delays in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the EU, an EU official told Reuters on Tuesday (13 April).
Kyriakides: Lifting patents is not way forward to produce more vaccines
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides on Tuesday (13 April) acknowledged the need to accelerate production of COVID-19 vaccines but stressed that lifting patents is not a way forward and that other options are under consideration.
Airlines could use new EU COVID pass this summer, Reynders tells MEPs
Airlines could check new European Union COVID certificates before allowing onboard passengers going on summer holidays, a senior official said on Tuesday (13 April) as the bloc seeks to restart a travel sector ravaged by the pandemic.
Slovak president backs scientists Russia said ‘damaged’ Sputnik V’s reputation
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has backed the researchers that examined doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine after Russia criticised them for having “damaged the reputation” of the shot with their assessment.
Spain to receive first batch of single-dose Janssen vaccine
The first batch of doses of the Janssen (Johnson&Johnson) single-dose COVID-19 vaccine is due to arrive in Spain within 48 hours according to the country’s health minister, Carolina Darias, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Pints, shopping and haircuts: English shops and pub gardens reopen as lockdown eases
People queued up outside retailers across England to release their pent-up shopping fever and some grabbed a midnight pint or even an early haircut as England’s shops, pubs, gyms and hairdressers reopened after three months of lockdown.
AstraZeneca says it had positive meeting with EU over vaccine row
AstraZeneca had a positive meeting with the European Commission last week, the Anglo-Swedish company said after an Italian newspaper said the group had not replied to an EU letter of complaint over COVID-19 vaccines within a 20-day deadline.
Spanish PM under pressure to lay out next steps in tackling pandemic
Spainish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will this week detail further plans to manage the COVID-19 pandemic amid fierce criticism from the conservative opposition about the slow vaccination roll-out and controversy surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Johnson and Johnson vaccine probe deepens Europe’s COVID woes
Europe's stuttering vaccine rollout faced multiple hurdles as EU regulators said they were reviewing side effects of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) shot and France further limited its use of the AstraZeneca jab.
France to allow mixing of COVID-19 vaccines despite lack of EMA guidance
People below 55 who received their first AstraZeneca dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will receive a different vaccine for their second, the French national health authority said Friday (9 April), despite the fact that there is no EMA guidance on the issue.
EU Presidency: AstraZeneca vaccine decisions ‘affect everyone’
The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union on Wednesday warned member states that individual decisions affected everyone regarding the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, involved in risks of blood clots, calling for the most coordinated position possible among the 27. A statement issued after the...
EU ‘better off’ with Sputnik V, says MEP as Germany moves to secure Russian shots
Germany's health minister Jens Spahn has said he is prepared to push ahead without the rest of the bloc to purchase doses of the Russian Sputnik V virus vaccine after approval from European regulators and would be entitled to do so, according to the Commission.
EU countries fail to reach a common position on how to use the AstraZeneca jab
EU member countries have adopted different tactics on how to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite the Commission’s push for a coordinated approach.
Germany’s Bavaria plans to buy Sputnik vaccine
Germany's Bavaria region has reached an agreement to buy doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine once it is approved by European regulators, the regional health ministry said Wednesday (7 April).
No data currently available on mixing COVID vaccines, says EMA
There are currently no guidelines on the "mixing and matching" of COVID-19 vaccines, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) clarified on Wednesday (7 April), as several European countries are now considering mixed vaccination strategies.
US vaccine ‘passports’ advance despite growing controversy
As the United States' vaccination campaign accelerates, so-called vaccine passports are gaining traction despite political divisions and a fragmented health care system that complicates the centralization of data.