Von der Leyen, we can vaccinate 700 million people

BRUSSELS -

"Today we are launching further measures in our fight against the virus; from increasing access to rapid tests and preparing vaccination campaigns to facilitating safe travel when necessary - he added -.

Courage measures taken. now they will help save lives. No Member State will come out of this pandemic safely until they all do. "

"In the best possible scenario, the arrangements for advance purchase of vaccines" anti-Covid "we have with pharmaceutical companies provide a range between 20-50 million doses delivered each month, since the first company will be ready.

If all the candidates we have for the production of the vaccines were successful, in 2021 we will have 1 billion and 220 million vaccines. But even if all the candidates fail, we will be able to vaccinate 700 million people, "said Von der Leyen.

"Tomorrow the heads of state and government will meet virtually, the goal is to coordinate better.

I will ask them for greater sharing of data with the platform of the European agency Ecdc. We will create a European platform of national scientific consultants on Covid for the exchange of information and strategies, "said the president of the European Commission.

Member States should agree on the criteria to be used for the selection of rapid antigen tests, to detect Covid,

and reach agreement on the scenarios and settings during which these tests should be used, such as in circumstances of high transmission. .

We read in the recommendation of the EU Commission on the test strategy, which includes rapid tests.

On 11 November, the European Commission will adopt a package of initiatives "to establish the first building blocks of a European health union".

This is what we read in the Communication on additional anti-Covid measures, published today.

The Commission wants to broaden the mandates of the ECDC and the EMA, and propose a comprehensive approach to preparedness, surveillance and response to serious cross-border health threats.

The proposals will not only concern health policies but also transport, with measures to better integrate them in emergencies.

A platform to monitor national vaccination strategies as they are implemented and communication campaigns to citizens against the risk of 'pandemic fatigue'.

These are some of the measures announced by the European Commission

to improve coordination between countries in the response to Covid.

The Executive wants to extend duties and zero VAT for importing medical material until April 2021 and reiterates its call to member countries to share data, use the EU system for apps, notify national testing strategies by mid-November.