Vaccine could be rolled out ‘by end of winter’ says expert

On Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU countries will start their coronavirus vaccination programs in just over a week, assigning the three days from December 27-29 for rolling out protections against COVID-19. The 27 EU member states are jointly buying vaccines together, with leaders discussing the plans at the latest European Council summit in Brussels last week. Brussels had hoped this show of unity would deliver a message to the rest of the world, with the EU left lagging behind the likes of the UK and US on the process of starting to administer the vaccination jabs.

Ms von der Leyen had urged all EU countries to await the conditional marketing authorization European Medicines Agency (EMA).

This is a process that requires more time than the emergency approvals that have been seen in the UK and US but aims to offer a more robust review and buy-in from all member countries.

Eight EU countries – Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland – signed a declaration on December 15 saying they would coordinate certain parts of their vaccination processes, according to a report by Politico.

The member states all agreed to “promote a coordinated beginning of the vaccination campaigns,” share information on “lessons learned”, and join forces in the fight against the spread of disinformation.

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The pact also urges clear messaging conveyed to the public, the adoption of common guidelines for cross-border workers, along with a designated contact point in each national competent authority.

But none of the document’s eight signatories agreed to begin the rollout of the vaccine jab on the same day.

And Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned Denmark would start the process as soon as a vaccine arrives, and said: “Even though I am a big supporter of coordination at European level, the vaccine must be run out and distributed the moment it hits Danish soil.”

German health minister Jens Spahn said Germany plans to start its own vaccination process on December 27, with Belgium even promising to be ready before that target set by its EU neighbour.

In contrast, the Netherlands said it will only start vaccinations from January 8 because of issues getting the country’s registration system ready.

This triggered an emergency parliament hearing on Thursday as to why the country finds itself so far behind some of its neighbouring member states.

An EU diplomat told Politico: “I know von der Leyen wants everyone to hold hands while we start vaccinating simultaneously.

“But it’s questionable whether member states can sell delaying a roll-out to their citizens if everything’s in place to start vaccinating.”

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Several EU leaders believe the most important element is the vaccine leaves the factories for all member states on the same day, and not when they actually begin their own vaccination rollout.

European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas told Euronews: “What is important is that all Europeans would have access to the vaccine on the same day.

“Then, national vaccination plans would start to kick in and then each member state will organize their own national procedures.”

Health ministers from Germany and Italy had been piling the pressure on the EU to accelerate the sign off and authorisation of the vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer at the most advanced stage of approval.

The EMA announced on Tuesday that European scientists are meeting next Monday – a week earlier than planned – to determine whether to recommend the jab.

The body has also moved forward the date for its review of the vaccine from Moderna by six days, from January 12 to January 6.

If the vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer is recommended by the EMA, it could be signed off by the European Commission within two days, with deliveries beginning on Boxing Day.

That would allow countries to start vaccinating within the timeline set by Ms von der Leyen of December 27-29.

But one EU diplomat told Politico claimed BioNTech and Pfizer had told member states they could deliver the vaccine to them within 24 hours of its being approved by Brussels, meaning deliveries could begin on Christmas Eve.

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