Health
Pfizer CEO: Vaccine third dose ‘likely’ needed within 12 months
The head of Pfizer said in an interview that people will "likely" need a third dose of his company's Covid-19 shot within six to 12 months of vaccination, while elsewhere defending the relatively higher cost of the jab.
Health experts call for the GDPR revision for cross-border health data sharing
Health experts are urging EU policymakers and legislators to review the EU’s legal data protection framework, the GDPR, which is hampering the sharing of pseudonymised health data outside the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA).
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.
EU Commission banks on mRNA vaccines for curbing COVID pandemic
The European Commission has moved to secure 1.8 billion more doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine amid speculation that it will not renew contracts with pharma companies AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
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.
Council ready to negotiate on COVID travel certificate
EU-27 ambassadors gave the go-ahead on Wednesday (14 April) to the Council's position in the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament on the Digital green certificates, a tool conceived by the European Commission to ease travel restrictions in the summer season despite the pandemic.
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.
French rally champion commits to planting one tree for every lap win
Three-time French rally champion Yoann Bonato announced in late March that he would commit to planting a tree each time he sets the fastest time 'scratch' during a 'special', of which there are many during a race. As he will be competing in 17 races in the 2021 season, there is a chance for many trees to be planted. EURACTIV France reports.
VfL Wolfsburg tops new Bundesliga environmental rankings
Football club VfL Wolfsburg is the most environmentally friendly team in the Bundesliga, according to the latest rankings from Sport Positive, an organisation working to rank Europe’s football leagues by environmental commitment.
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.