EU launches mass vaccine rollout to fight coronavirus

The European Union is launching a co-ordinated vaccine rollout to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had been delivered to all 27 member states.

According to the international news agency, some countries have begun administering the jabs on Saturday, saying they were not prepared to wait another day.

It is pertinent to mention that more than 335,000 Covid-related deaths have been reported in the EU. More than 14 million have been infected so far. Member countries have implemented strict lockdown measures. 

Mass vaccination for 446 million people of the EU is likely to begin soon after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission authorized the German-US Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The EU has made contracts for more than two billion vaccine doses from a range of drug companies.

“Today, we start turning the page on a difficult year. The #COVID19 vaccine has been delivered to all EU countries. Vaccination will begin tomorrow across the EU,” Ms von der Leyen tweeted on Saturday.

“The #EUvaccinationdays are a touching moment of unity. Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic,” she added.

Today, we start turning the page on a difficult year. The #COVID19 vaccine has been delivered to all EU countries.

Vaccination will begin tomorrow across the EU.

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The #EUvaccinationdays are a touching moment of unity. Vaccination is the lasting way out of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/pYOj5vS2gV

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 26, 2020

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Saturday: “This is a happy Christmas message. At this moment, lorries with the first vaccines are on the road all over Europe, all over Germany, in all federal states. Further deliveries will follow the day after tomorrow.

“This vaccine is the crucial key for defeating the pandemic. It’s the key for us getting back our lives.”