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COVID-19 vaccines in EU insufficient to prevent third wave

Friday, 19 March 2021 7:08 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 19 March 2021 7:08 PM ]

Jerome Hughes
Press TV, Brussels

This is Belgium's largest COVID-19 vaccination center, located in Heysel on the outskirts of Brussels City. Like hundreds of similar venues across the EU, officials here are worried about vaccine supplies. Thirty three-year-old nurse Alex Govoni has arrived to get the jab.

AstraZeneca is contracted to supply the EU with 90 million doses before the end of this month but will only deliver 30 million. The firm is supposed to supply 180 million doses in April, May, and June but says it will only provide 70 million.

Key EU member states will start to administer AstraZeneca again after being reassured by health authorities amid safety concerns.

Experts are asking, due to the EU's dismal handling of the affair, how many people will be willing to take the jab. In any case, the German Government says there are not enough vaccines in the EU to prevent a third wave. For example, infection rates are again out of control in France and Italy. Health officials say the UK variant of the virus is wreaking havoc in Poland. Many hospitals are reaching breaking point. The eurozone economy is on its knees as countries begin to tighten restrictions.

Economists are wondering where the money will come from to do this as millions of businesses in the 19-nation eurozone remain closed. This, as vaccine demand in the EU is far outweighing supply.

Health experts warn that when centres like this are not being fully utilized, COVID-19 mutations are allowed to develop in the community. The big concern is future variants might be even more contagious and more deadly.

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