BRUSSELS -
The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen spoke on the phone this morning with AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Claude Roland Soriot, recalling that the EU expects "a timely delivery" of the vaccines against Covid.
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides also wrote to the company yesterday, and a conference call is expected today between the Commissioner, Member States and company representatives.
"We have recently had difficulties in weekly deliveries of vaccines. I would like to mention the need for manufacturers to take full responsibility for the direct and delayed delivery of vaccines to Member States.
This is a very delicate process and we count on constant monitoring and also active by the Commission ".
Thus the Foreign Minister,
Luigi Di Maio, speaking to the EU Council.
"We will not change the goals" of vaccination coverage of 80% of the vulnerable population and medical staff by March and 70% of the population by the summer.
This was stated by the spokesman of the EU Commission,
Eric Mamer
, responding to questions from journalists on the delays announced by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
"If every time a problem arises we change our goal, we lose predictability and clarity for all parties involved in this process", Mamer underlined, adding that "the goals" set by the EU "are ambitious" and Brussels intends "find solutions to the problems" that have emerged.
"I would not lose hope of achieving herd immunity at the end of autumn."
The commissioner for the emergency
Domenico Arcuri
told Rai Radio2,
trusting in the arrival of further vaccines, starting with those of Johnson & Johnson, which could be approved soon.
"The delays are unbearable, unforeseen, unacceptable and with respect to which we will do everything to pursue the responsibility of those who produced them. But - he concluded - we have the hope of recovering".
