(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 28 - Europe must prepare its medical structures to manage "an era of pandemics", even when Covid-19 has been defeated: the president of the European Commission Ursulavon der Leyen told the Financial Times, admitting that the EU is going through its most difficult time for delivering vaccines.
For von der Leyen, the EU cannot afford to stop, and a plan is needed for a rapid European response to health threats.
"Europe is determined to strengthen its capacity to produce vaccines - he explains -. We are entering an era of epidemics. If you look at what has happened in recent years, with HIV, Ebola, Mers and Sars, those were epidemics that could have been contained, but we cannot think that it is all over once Covid-19 is over. The risk remains ".
The president recalls that last month he unveiled a biodefence plan called Hera Incubator, which will unite researchers, biotech companies, manufacturers and public authorities to monitor health emergencies and work quickly on vaccines.
The model is the American Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda): "This gives them a great advantage, it is an infrastructure that Europe does not have ... and this will be the Hera Incubator".
Admitting the European difficulties of recent months for vaccine delivery, von der Leyen recalls that a second contract with Pfizer / BioNTech will trigger, together with the arrival of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which should be approved in Europe.
Speaking of the problems encountered with AstraZeneca's deliveries, the president explains: "It's good that they deliver from the rest of the world as well, but they have to honor their contract and we want the part we deserve."
(HANDLE).
