The EU’s Covid-19 vaccination plan is nearing crisis point after several regions suspended inoculations over the shortage of jabs and Brussels moved to restrict exports of vaccines to conserve stocks. The independent commission advising the German government on vaccination policy has recommended that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab not be used for people aged over 65, a move that heaps pressure on the bloc’s vaccine effort.
Meanwhile, authorities in Paris have stopped administering first injections of Covid-19 jabs, while Lisbon said its vaccination rollout would be slower because of shortages. The Paris region and two other regions accounting for about a third of the French population have postponed new vaccinations for up to four weeks to conserve doses for those entitled to second and final injections of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.
The French health ministry said on Thursday night that deliveries of the Moderna vaccine to the country would also be below expectations in February, with 25 per cent fewer than planned for the month.Faced with similar shortages, Portugal said its vaccination campaign would be delayed by up to two months. The country follows the Madrid region, which warned on Wednesday that it would pause its campaign for 10 days.
Recommended Brussels is attempting to reassert control of the push in the midst of an escalating row with AstraZeneca over supply problems.