The World
Health Organization is warning against what it calls vaccine nationalism after
the European Union launched a scheme that could block exports of coronavirus
vaccines. It's the latest development in a row between the EU and drug maker
AstraZeneca. EU health authorities approved the company's jab on Friday. But
Brussels says it has failed to supply the vaccine in the quantities promised -
and says the controls are needed to ensure export orders aren't fulfilled
first.
It was a
dramatic decision, born out of desperation: Faced with diminished deliveries of
the Covid-19 vaccine, the EU on Friday announced controls on vaccine exports.
This threatened controls at the border between the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland.
Keeping the
border open was a key EU demand in the drawn out Brexit negotiations, and the
news was greeted with disbelief in the UK.
The move
came as the World Health Organization expressed concern over resource
nationalism. The EU swiftly rowed back, making clear that the Ireland-UK border
would remain open. But controls of vaccine exports will remain in place.
The measure
was prompted by drug maker AstraZeneca, which plans to delay deliveries of its
vaccine to the EU, while maintaining full deliveries to the UK.
The row has
not stopped the EU's European Medicines Agency from approving AstraZeneca's
vaccine for use within the union. But with the producer unwilling to
significantly ramp up the bloc's deliveries, the approval is unlikely to boost
an immunization campaign that is struggling to get off the ground.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário