About: vaccines
COVAX asks for additional funding in case new COVID variant emerges
It has been over a year since the COVAX vaccination initiative, led by Gavi, delivered its first shipment. Recently supply outran demand for the first time. The initiative's focus is now turning towards fundraising to prepare for future variants.
Better tools are need to end tuberculosis and anti-microbial resistance
We need better tools to end TB and AMR, and the EU can and must lead these efforts, writes Nicolae Ștefănuță.
Choosing additional COVID shots for Ukrainians treated with Covishield or CoronaVac
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, countries receiving Ukrainian refugees are encouraged to ensure available vaccination. Of the six vaccines authorised in Ukraine, two are not authorised by the EU drugs agency, and the World Health Organisation says mix and match technology needs to be used in these cases.
Health Brief: The HPV vaccine moral dilemma
At a time when Europe’s beating cancer plan aims to include boys in HPV vaccination programs, vaccine shortages are creating a moral dilemma: Should a shot be given to a boy in the EU or a girl in a low-income country?
EMA encourages COVID-19 vaccine developers to target several variants
Marco Cavaleri, the head of vaccines strategy for the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has encouraged vaccine developers to “explore the feasibility” of making multivalent vaccines: those that cross-neutralise COVID-19 virus variants.
France to push EU states to approve avian flu vaccine for poultry
Two vaccines will soon be tested in France in response to the worst avian influenza outbreak Europe has ever faced, French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie has announced. The aim is for them to be approved for all 27 EU member states. EURACTIV France reports.
Short shelf lives see poor nations decline millions of Covid jabs: UN
Lower-income countries refused to take around 100 million donated COVID-19 vaccine doses in December alone, chiefly due to their short shelf life, the United Nations said Thursday (13 January).
COVID-19 certificates helped to increase vaccination uptake
COVID-19 certification led to increased vaccination uptake 20 days before and 40 days after it was introduced in countries with lower-than-average vaccination coverage, according to a modeling study published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
Why Europe’s East does not trust the COVID-19 vaccine
As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, an ever-growing divide between Western and Eastern Europe in terms of vaccination uptake becomes more apparent. But what's driving it?
G7 & EU Must Put Lives before Profits and ‘Vaccinate Our World’ Now!
After more than a year blanketed by the pandemic—communities, economies, and health systems in the European Union and beyond continue to be devastated. It is all too clear that the world is in desperate need of an immediate and novel...
Ex vaccine adviser: EU didn’t look hard enough at producers’ capacity
The EU should have paid more attention to some vaccine manufacturers and their effective capacity when signing the contracts, the former co-chair of the EU vaccine steering board said during an event on Tuesday (18 May).
Kyriakides: AstraZeneca remains an important part of the EU portfolio
After months of broken promises and unmet contractual targets, the European Commission has stepped up its legal offensive against pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. But EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides says its vaccine remains an “important part” of the EU portfolio in the efforts to protect Europeans against the COVID-19.
Health expert: Routine immunisation should not be put on back-burner due to COVID
A real commitment from all stakeholders and policymakers is needed to support a catch-up immunisation campaign and overcome the difficulties routine vaccination programmes have experienced during the pandemic, according to a key vaccine stakeholder.
‘Mistakes were made’ when vaccines were ordered, EU’s Timmermans admits
The European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has admitted that mistakes were made in Brussels when COVID-19 vaccines were being ordered and suggested taking stock "at the end of the pandemic" of what went wrong and what was done right. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
AstraZeneca fails to reassure MEPs over timely vaccine deliveries
Grilled by European lawmakers, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot, gave only vague explanations about recent supply cuts of COVID-19 vaccines and about the preferential treatment given to the UK, failing to guarantee the expected EU deliveries for the second quarter of the year.
France announces development aid boost
After international stakeholders came together on 9 February to discuss new solidarity-based development models, the French government presented a text on Wednesday (17 February) to increase development aid to 0.55% of the country's wealth by 2022. EURACTIV France reports.
EU Commission wants extra €1.5 billion to fight pandemic
The European Commission on Monday (1 February) said it will need to tap into the EU budget margins this year – around €1.5 billion – to monitor progress made with vaccination campaigns, finance pharmacovigilance studies, and fight against the new variants of COVID-19.
EU tightens controls on vaccine exports, leaves door open for bans
On the back of increasing tensions with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, the European Commission launched a scheme to monitor exports of vaccines on Friday (29 January), leaving the door open to reject exports of vaccines produced in the EU as it sees fit.
Spain to launch Whatsapp channel to fight vaccine disinformation
Spain’s health ministry will soon launch a WhatsApp interactive channel to fight against disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines, El País reported. This should help reduce the percentage of Spaniards who still refuse to get vaccinated. EURACTIV's partner EuroEfe reports.
EU to fund transfer of COVID-19 patients across borders to prevent hospitals collapse
The European Union will finance the transfer of patients across borders within the bloc to prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations spike in the continent.
Progress but the fight against COVID-19 is just beginning
Over the last few weeks, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced they have begun a “rolling review” process on COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University, Moderna and from Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech. The announcements are indicative...
EU wants to buy COVID-19 vaccines up front – unless they’re made in America
The European Commission is seeking a mandate from EU countries to buy promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates in advance from pharmaceutical firms, as long as they are not produced solely in the United States, officials said.
Oxfam: COVID-19 vaccinations for vulnerable could cost fraction of top pharma’s yearly profits
Oxfam is urging governments and pharmaceutical companies to guarantee that vaccines, tests, and treatments will be patent-free and equitably distributed to all nations and people, ahead of the World Health Assembly next week.