Brussels: European Union (EU) leaders today agreed to donate at least 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to poorer nations by the end of 2021 as supplies steadily rise across Europe.
Gathered in Brussels for a two-day summit, the 27 leaders backed a text in which they pledge to continue efforts “to increase global vaccine production capacities in order to meet global needs.”
Leaders also called “for work to be stepped up to ensure global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines”. They also reiterated their support for the U.N.-backed COVAX program. COVAX aims to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 shots for low-and middle-income countries.
In addition to the donation of shots, leaders pledged to help countries in need to develop vaccine production locally.
It was unclear which vaccines from the EU’s portfolio would be donated. Coronavirus vaccines authorized by the European Medicines Agency, the bloc’s drug regulator, include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
The agreement came after the U.S. said earlier this month it will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world on top of a prior commitment to share about 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Leaders also welcomed the compromise found last week with EU legislators for launching COVID-19 certificates before the height of the summer holiday season, a move aimed at boosting travel and tourism following the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic, the Associated Press news (APN) reported.
