About: vaccines
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.
US says China trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine as markets slump
Chinese hackers are trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research, US authorities said Wednesday (13 May), ratcheting up tensions between the superpowers as markets slumped on warnings from the US Federal Reserve that prolonged shutdowns could cause "lasting damage."
Vaccine telethon raises billions as Europe eases virus lockdown
Hopes rose in the fight against the coronavirus on Monday (4 May) as world leaders pledged billions of euros for a vaccine in a special telethon and European countries edged out of lockdown.
New health tools for COVID-19
How to ensure access for all to a coronavirus vaccine should be the priority for world leaders. Dr Bernard Pécoul offers five ideas leaders should consider this week as they aim to raise €7.5 billion to fund vaccine research.
National immunisation routines ‘more critical than ever’ in wake of COVID-19 outbreak
The recent COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated that we must not let down our guard on routine immunisations, Dr Hans Kluge, World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for Europe, stressed in a speech marking European Immunisation Week 2020.
EU offers support to German vaccine company coveted by Trump
The European Commission said on Monday (16 March) it offered up to €80 million of financial support to German company CureVac to scale up development and production of a coronavirus vaccine in Europe.
EU ‘well prepared’ to deal with coronavirus, says health expert
Following the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, which has now infected more than 600 people and claimed the lives of 18, health authorities around the world are now mobilising to try to contain the spread of the disease.
Europe gives go ahead to market Ebola vaccine
The European Union authorised the marketing of a vaccine against Ebola on Monday (11 November), permitting the first wider commercial use of a protection that has helped stem an outbreak in DR Congo.
Poll: Nearly half of Europeans think vaccines ‘can often produce severe side effects’
85% of EU citizens believe vaccines are an effective way of preventing diseases, but almost half of them think vaccines "can often produce severe side-effects," according to a new Eurobarometer survey.
How Brexit will impact healthcare for our pets and farm animals
Brexit, particularly the prospect of 'no deal', poses a serious threat to animal welfare standards and food security, writes Carel du Marchie Sarvaas.
Combination vaccines: more protection for all with less injections
Combination vaccines represent a substantial outcome of a successful R&D to ease vaccination experience for everyone: children, parents and healthcare professionals while improving the protection of the public against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Health and vaccine research set to lose out from new EU research budget
The European Commission may be planning to hike spending for its flagship research programme, but health and scientific research, particularly into new vaccines, was not one of the winners from the proposal announced on Thursday (7 June).
Expert: Animal health innovations will benefit both farming and society
An innovation-driven approach – ranging from vaccination to other health management solutions and appropriate biosecurity measures – will ensure more sustainable future livestock farming and protection of public health, as animal diseases do not recognise borders, Roxane Feller told EURACTIV.com.
How Italy’s scientific community joined forces and shaped national vaccination plan
If the scientific community sticks together and makes a coordinated effort, it can be very influential in shaping national vaccination plans, Italian professor Paolo Bonanni told EURACTIV.com, citing Italy as a prime example.
Commission could play greater role in harmonising vaccines supply, industry says
The European Commission could play a decisive role in further harmonising the regulatory framework of vaccines and therefore avoid delays in the supply of vaccines in case of shortages or emergencies, Vaccines Europe told EURACTIV.com.
ECDC chief: Bigger social media presence needed to fight anti-vaccines fake news
Public health authorities at EU and national level have started working to “occupy more of the space on social media”, as it is currently almost entirely taken up by people who are against vaccination, Dr Andrea Ammon told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
MEP: Vaccination is a lifelong process, not only for children
Parents have a particular responsibility to protect their children, as they are more vulnerable to infections, but vaccination should be seen as a lifelong approach that applies to adults too, centre-right MEP Renate Sommer told EURACTIV.com.
Health tech bill to kick off busy policy agenda in 2018
The European Commission will propose a new law on Health Technology Assessments to kick off a busy EU health agenda in 2018.
Vaccines boss: Clear privacy rules are needed for electronic immunisation record system
An electronic immunisation record system, which aims to better monitor vaccination among populations, will need clear privacy rules and individuals should be the owners of their own data, Patricia Massetti told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Patricia Massetti is an associate...
Commission backs electronic immunisation record to manage vaccination
The European Commission supports the creation of an electronic immunisation record system that will help EU member states enhance their cross-border cooperation and simultaneously enhance prevention of infectious diseases.
Mimica: We are analysing aid funding gaps left by the US
The EU is analysing the aid funding gap left by Donald Trump’s decision to ban US federal funding for NGOs providing birth control support or abortions in developing countries, Development Commissioner Neven Mimica told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.