5 Min Read
BERLIN/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Germany was weighing on Monday whether to allow a delay in administering a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer to make scarce supplies go further, after a similar move by Britain last week.
Syringes are prepared for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a nursing home in Bad Windsheim, Germany December 27, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
Separately, Denmark approved on Monday a delay of up to six weeks between the first and second shots of the vaccine.
In Berlin, the health ministry was seeking the view of an independent vaccination commission on whether to delay a second shot beyond a current 42-day maximum limit, according to a one-page document seen by Reuters on Monday.
Stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccines, South Africa s Ramaphosa tells rich nations
FILE PHOTO: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during a news conference after a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari, in Pretoria, South Africa, October 3, 2019. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko reuters tickers
This content was published on January 26, 2021 - 16:13
January 26, 2021 - 16:13
By Alexander Winning
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday urged wealthy countries not to hoard surplus COVID-19 vaccine supplies, adding his voice to calls for global production to be shared more equally.
With Africa struggling to secure sufficient vaccines to start countrywide inoculation programmes for its 1.3 billion people, the head of the international Gavi vaccine alliance meanwhile said the surplus doses that richer countries had ordered ran into the hundreds of millions.
The fresh setback added to woes brought on by Pfizer/BioNTech s decision to delay shipments for the next few weeks because of work to increase production capacity at a key Belgian plant.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the bloc means business about getting its fair share of vaccines after British officials feared the EU could restrict exports of vaccines manufactured in Europe.
EU officials denied they would restrict vaccine exports but proposed a new transparency mechanism to ensure manufacturers met their contractual obligations to the EU.
Under the scheme, the companies would be required to notify authorities of any vaccine exports outside the EU, amid concern pharmaceutical groups might be selling the earmarked doses to higher bidders outside the bloc.
3 Min Read
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will be able to work with the European Union to ensure there is no disruption to vaccine supplies, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday, arguing protectionism was not right during a pandemic.
FILE PHOTO: People wait in line to enter Lord s Cricket Ground to receive the coronavirus vaccine, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain, January 22, 2021. REUTERS/John Sibley
German Health Minister Jens Spahn earlier said he backed proposals to restrict vaccines leaving the EU, saying Europe should have its “fair share”.
The European Commission later said it had no plans to impose an export ban, explaining its proposal would require firms to register vaccine exports.
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