COVID-19 vaccination rollout across Europe

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2020-
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Summary:

Information Guide concerning the vaccination process carried out across Europe to address the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Selection of Official Websites and Useful Resources (check the latter half of the page for further sources):

Further information:

COVID-19 vaccines aim at preventing the condition by triggering an immune response. Most of these vaccines trigger theses immune responses to a tiny fragment of SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. If a person who has received a vaccine is infected by the virus later on, the immune system recognises the virus. As it is already prepared to attack the virus, the person's immune system is able to protect them from the disease.

The European Union became responsible for ensuring the authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines in the EU and the wider European Economic Area (EEA). In June 2020, the Commission published the so-called EU Vaccination Strategy. The European Council and the Member States also mandated the Commission to organise the joint procurement of vaccines. On 15 October, a further EC Communication was published on key elements to be taken into account by Member States in their national vaccination strategies.

A number of contracts - also known as Advance Purchase Agreements (APAs) - were signed between the European Commission and different pharmaceutical companies to develop a varied portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines and other treatments. These included contracts for securing billions of vaccine doses produced by BioNTech-Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sanofi-GSK; Johnson and Johnson; CureVac and Moderna. The first vaccine - produced by BioNTech-Pfizer - was formally authorised by the European Commission on 21 December 2020, following an assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and consultation with the EU Member States. Vaccination started across the EU on 27 December 2020. The vaccine produced by Moderna was approved by the Commission on 6 January 2021.

In late January, reports emerged over delays in the production of some of the vaccines prompting a reaction from the European Commission. In particular, a row developed between the Commission and AstraZeneca over manufacturing capacity and the fulfilling of the contract signed between the two sides. This issue eventually got mixed with the provisions of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the implications for Northern Ireland, following the adoption by the European Commission of a measure to temporarily control vaccine exports. On 29 January, the European Commission also announced the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the EU. As the production of vaccines became the central issue of the vaccination rollout, some countries started looking for alternatives that could make up for the problem.

Elsewhere in Europe, the British government secured similar purchase agreements with a number of pharmaceutical companies. The UK's medicines authority (MHRA) authorised the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on 1 December 2020, in what was considered to be an extremely fast authorisation process. The first person was vaccinated against the disease in the United Kingdom on 8 December. In Russia, the National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology developed its own vaccine against COVID-19 as an alternative to the effort undertaken by (mostly western) pharmaceutical companies.
Related Link(s)
Commentary and Analysis
Politico: Coronavirus vaccination in Europe — by the numbers https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-vaccination-europe-by-the-numbers/
Euro|topics, November 2020: Vaccines: the world between hope and scepticism https://www.eurotopics.net/en/251007/
TIME, 02/12/2020: How the U.K. Approved Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Faster Than the U.S. and Europe https://time.com/5917109/u-k-covid-vaccine-approved/
Euro|topics, December 2020: Green light for vaccine: time to celebrate? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/253443/
Euro|topics, January 2021: Is the EU's vaccination campaign taking too long? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/253796/
Euro|topics, January 2021: Covid vaccine: what to do about the sceptics? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/252010/
Politico, 14/01/2021: 8 reasons the UK leads Europe’s coronavirus vaccination race https://www.politico.eu/article/8-reasons-why-uk-leads-europe-coronavirus-vaccination-race/
The Guardian: Opinion, 19/01/2021: EU's Covid vaccination debacle is down to institutional inflexibility https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/19/eus-covid-vaccination-debacle-is-down-to-institutional-inflexibility
Euro|topics, January 2021: Vaccination strategy: what is blocking progress? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/254371/
ECFR: Article, 27/01/2021: The geopolitics of covid vaccines in Europe’s eastern neighbourhood https://ecfr.eu/article/the-geopolitics-of-covid-vaccines-in-europes-eastern-neighbourhood/
Politico, 27/01/2021: How Europe fell behind on vaccines https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-coronavirus-vaccine-struggle-pfizer-biontech-astrazeneca/
The Conversation, 28/01/2021: What is behind the EU’s dispute with AstraZeneca over COVID-19 vaccines? https://theconversation.com/what-is-behind-the-eus-dispute-with-astrazeneca-over-covid-19-vaccines-154161
EUObserver: Analysis, 28/01/2021: The EU's vaccine strategy - the key points https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/150747
Opean Access Government: News, 28/01/2021: Is this a vaccine war or the first post-Brexit war? https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/vaccine-war/102494/
Foreign Policy, 28/01/2021: Europe’s Vaccine Disaster Isn’t Lack of Supply https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/28/europes-vaccine-disaster-isnt-lack-of-supply/
BBC News, 28/01/2021: Covid: Why is EU’s vaccine rollout so slow? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55844268
The Economist, 30/01/2021: Europe needs quicker vaccinations and more stimulus https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/01/30/europe-needs-quicker-vaccinations-and-more-stimulus
EurActiv: Opinion, 30/01/2021: The COVID-19 vaccine is a global public good https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/the-covid-19-vaccine-is-a-global-public-good/
Euro|topics, February 2021: Row with Astrazeneca: an incompetent EU? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/255036/
UK House of Commons Library: Insights, 02/02/2021: Northern Ireland Protocol: Article 16 and EU vaccine export controls https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/northern-ireland-protocol-article-16-and-eu-vaccine-export-controls/
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 02/02/2021: Why the EU’s Vaccine Strategy Will Pay Off in the End https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/83777
New Statesman, 03/02/2021: Why pro-Europeans should be incensed about the EU’s vaccines debacle https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2021/02/why-pro-europeans-should-be-incensed-about-eu-s-vaccines-debacle
The Conversation, 03/02/2021: COVID vaccines: is it legal for the EU to restrict exports? https://theconversation.com/covid-vaccines-is-it-legal-for-the-eu-to-restrict-exports-154527
The Economist, 03/02/2021: How Europe dodges responsibility for its vaccine fiasco https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/02/03/how-europe-dodges-responsibility-for-its-vaccine-fiasco
Euro|topics, February 2021: Vaccination: arguments for global fairness https://www.eurotopics.net/en/255609/
Euro|topics, February 2021: What is taking so long with the vaccines? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/255686/
Reuters, 05/02/2021: Countdown to 'catastrophe:' Inside Europe's fight for COVID shots https://www.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN2A50I1
Euro|topics, February 2021: How to deal with vaccine shortfalls in Europe? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/255205/
France24, 06/02/2021: How the EU’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout became an ‘advert for Brexit’ https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210206-how-the-eu-s-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-became-an-advert-for-brexit
Euro|topics, February 2021: Privileges for the vaccinated? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/255847/
Foreign Policy, 08/02/2021: Why Europe Is Falling Behind on Vaccines https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/08/europe-falling-behind-vaccines-covid/
UKiCE: Explainers, 09/02/2021: The EU Vaccine Programme https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/the-eu-vaccine-programme/
BBC News, 10/02/2021: Covid: How Serbia soared ahead in vaccination campaign https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55931864
News
Euronews: Tag: Coronavirus vaccine https://www.euronews.com/tag/coronavirus-vaccine
Politico, 10/09/2020: Europe eyes loophole for early distribution of unlicensed coronavirus vaccine https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-eyes-loophole-for-early-distribution-of-unlicensed-coronavirus-vaccine/
BBC News, 11/11/2020: Coronavirus: EU buys 300m doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902056
Reuters, 19/11/2020: EU warns Hungary against use of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N2I51L7
The Guardian, 23/11/2020: US, Germany and UK could start Covid vaccinations as early as December https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/23/us-germany-and-uk-could-start-covid-vaccinations-as-early-as-december
BBC News, 08/12/2020: Covid-19 vaccine: First person receives Pfizer jab in UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55227325
France24, 15/12/2020: First EU Covid-19 vaccinations likely before end of year, bloc’s commission chief says https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20201215-first-covid-19-vaccinations-in-eu-likely-before-year-s-end-bloc-s-chief-says
Deutsche Welle, 22/12/2020: Coronavirus vaccines cross Europe as countries ready for rollout https://p.dw.com/p/3n7Ik
France24, 26/12/2020: European Union begins coronavirus vaccine rollout as new strain spreads https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20201226-european-union-begins-coronavirus-vaccine-rollout-as-new-strain-spreads
BBC News, 27/12/2020: Covid: EU starts mass vaccination in 'touching moment of unity' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55456795
The Guardian, 27/12/2020: EU launches mass Covid-19 vaccination as new variant spreads https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/eu-launches-mass-covid-19-vaccination-new-variant-spreads-pfizer-vaccine
Reuters, 28/12/2020: EU's marathon COVID vaccination drive off to uneven start https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2921FD
BBC News, 06/01/2021: Coronavirus: Dutch shocked to be EU vaccination stragglers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55549656
The Local (Norway), 11/01/2021: What's the latest on Norway's Covid-19 vaccine rollout? https://www.thelocal.no/20210111/whats-the-latest-on-norways-covid-19-vaccination-programme
The Local (Norway), 16/01/2021: Norway warns of side effects of Covid-19 vaccine on elderly after deaths of frail patients https://www.thelocal.no/20210116/norway-warns-of-fatal-side-effects-of-coronavirus-vaccine-for-elderly
Associated Press, 17/01/2021: Vaccine skepticism hurts East European anti-virus efforts https://apnews.com/article/45f495d7205a7b47ae8d499ec08e0504
VOA News, 19/01/2021: Serbia Becomes First European Country to Use Chinese COVID Vaccine for Mass Rollout https://www.voanews.com/europe/serbia-becomes-first-european-country-use-chinese-covid-vaccine-mass-rollout
Reuters, 19/01/2021: European countries struggle to make most of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N2JQ558
RTÉ News, 22/01/2021: AstraZeneca warns of limited vaccine supplies to Europe https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0122/1191541-astrazeneca-vaccine/
France24, 23/01/2021: AstraZeneca says Covid-19 vaccine deliveries to Europe will be ‘lower than expected’ https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210123-astrazeneca-says-covid-19-vaccine-deliveries-to-europe-will-be-lower-than-expected
Reuters, 26/01/2021: Stick to your word, EU tells vaccine makers, as supply chains wobble https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29V1F0
Reuters, 27/01/2021: EU demands AstraZeneca plan to break vaccine deadlock https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29W0ZV
TIME, 27/01/2021: Call Between AstraZeneca and E.U. To Go Ahead Amid Blame-Game Over Vaccine Supply https://time.com/5933648/call-between-astrazeneca-and-e-u-to-go-ahead-amid-blame-game-over-vaccine-supply/
France 24, 27/01/2021: AstraZeneca vaccine row sets EU, UK on collision course https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210127-astrazeneca-vaccine-row-sets-eu-uk-on-collision-course
Politico, 27/01/2021: UK restricts COVID medicine exports amid AstraZeneca vaccine fight https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-export-boris-johnson/
RTÉ News, 27/01/2021: EU and AstraZeneca fail to make breakthrough, says EU https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0127/1192269-coronavirus-vaccine/
Deutsche Welle, 27/01/2021: Coronavirus: EU expresses dismay over AstraZeneca vaccine delays https://p.dw.com/p/3oTWm
The Guardian, 27/01/2021: Britain and EU clash over claims to UK-produced Covid vaccine https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/27/eu-covid-vaccine-row-astrazeneca-european-commission
Politico, 28/01/2021: EU slams AstraZeneca but fails in push for vaccine https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-slams-astrazeneca-but-fails-in-push-for-vaccine-stella-kyriakides-pascal-soriot/
BBC News, 28/01/2021: Coronavirus: EU demands UK-made AstraZeneca vaccine doses https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55822602
Associated Press, 28/01/2021: EU explores legal avenues amid AstraZeneca vaccine dispute https://apnews.com/article/172b5de3151d923c1b2ac83689599128
Politico, 28/01/2021: EU brandishes export ban to claim dibs on vaccines https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-brandishes-export-ban-to-claim-dibs-on-vaccine-astrazeneca-pfizer/
EurActiv, 29/01/2021: Spain rallies behind EU vaccine strategy https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/spain-rallies-behind-eu-vaccine-strategy/
The Guardian: Opinion, 31/01/2021: EU Covid incompetence leaves governments wanting vaccines, not excuses https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/31/eu-covid-incompetence-vaccines-not-excuses
The Guardian, 31/01/2021: 'The best advert for Brexit': European press reacts to EU Covid vaccine row https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/31/european-press-reacts-eu-covid-vaccine-row
Politico, 31/01/2021: AstraZeneca to deliver 9M more coronavirus vaccine doses to EU https://www.politico.eu/article/astrazeneca-to-deliver-more-coronavirus-vaccine-doses-to-eu/
Bloomberg, 31/01/2021: Merkel to Convene Crisis Talks Amid Chaotic EU Vaccine Rollout https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-31/eu-says-astrazeneca-to-deliver-9-million-more-vaccine-doses
BBC News, 01/02/2021: Covid: EU and AstraZeneca in 'step forward' on vaccines https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55879345
Associated Press, 01/02/2021: EU: AstraZeneca to supply 9 million more vaccine doses https://apnews.com/article/b3e7dd0d44c7cf870a4313b1534728b9
Deutsche Welle, 01/02/2021: Coronavirus: BioNTech-Pfizer pledges 75 million more EU vaccines https://p.dw.com/p/3oefq
The Local (Sweden), 02/02/2021: EU launches 'vaccine tracker' and shifts strategy away from AstraZeneca https://www.thelocal.com/20210202/eu-launches-vaccine-tracker-and-shifts-strategy-away-from-astrazeneca
The Guardian, 03/02/2021: EU leaders begin to feel heat over slow Covid vaccine rollout https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/03/eu-leaders-begin-feel-heat-slow-covid-vaccine-rollout
The Local (Germany), 03/02/2021: 'We can work together': Germany moves to bring Russian vaccine into EU https://www.thelocal.de/20210203/germany-moves-to-bring-russian-vaccine-into-eu-orbit
Deutsche Welle, 05/02/2021: EU chief admits COVID vaccine blunders https://p.dw.com/p/3ouTq
The Moscow Times, 05/02/2021: Top EU Envoy ‘Hopes’ for Russian Vaccine’s Approval in Europe https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/02/05/top-eu-envoy-hopes-for-russian-vaccines-approval-in-europe-a72849
Politico, 05/02/2021: Production snags likely to leave EU lagging in vaccinations for months to come https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-coronavirus-vaccine-rollout-production-snags-age-limits/
BBC News, 06/02/2021: Covid: Vaccine tensions stoke German criticism of EU's von der Leyen https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55948360
Associated Press, 07/02/2021: UK vaccine gambles paid off, while EU caution slowed it down https://apnews.com/article/f3c52a16bec8b9a996e1d61bd4e24f7d
Politico, 08/02/2021: French trust EU more than their government on coronavirus vaccine: poll https://www.politico.eu/article/france-trust-eu-more-than-french-government-on-coronavirus-vaccine/
Official
Pfizer: Press Release, 21/12/2020: Pfizer and Biontech receive authorization in the European Union for COVID-19 vaccine https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-receive-authorization-european-union
EU EMA: News, 21/12/2020: EMA recommends first COVID-19 vaccine for authorisation in the EU https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-first-covid-19-vaccine-authorisation-eu
EU ECDC: News, 21/12/2020: First COVID-19 vaccine authorised for use in the European Union https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/first-covid-19-vaccine-authorised-use-european-union
EU EMA: News, 06/01/2021: EMA recommends COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna for authorisation in the EU https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-covid-19-vaccine-moderna-authorisation-eu
European Commission: Press Release, 08/01/2021: Commission proposes to purchase up to 300 million additional doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_9
European Commission: Questions and Answers: COVID-19 vaccination in the EU (8 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_2467
European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on additional doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine (8 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_46
European Parliament: Press Release, 12/01/2021: COVID-19 vaccines: MEPs call for more clarity and transparency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210111IPR95308/
European Parliament: Headlines, 19/01/2021: Covid-19 vaccinations: more solidarity and transparency needed https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20210114STO95642/
European Commission: Press statement by Commissioner Kyriakides on vaccine deliveries and on the vaccine export transparency scheme (25 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_211
European Commission: Remarks by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides on vaccines (27 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_267
European Commission: Press Release, 29/01/2021: Vaccines: contract between European Commission and AstraZeneca now published https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_302
European Commission: Press Release, 29/01/2021: European Commission authorises third safe and effective vaccine against COVID-19 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_306
European Commission: Read-out of the videoconference between President von der Leyen and CEOs of pharmaceutical companies (31 January 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/read_21_321
European Parliament: Press Release, 05/02/2021: MEPs urge EU countries to be transparent about their COVID-19 vaccine supplies https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210203IPR97001/
European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the state of play of the EU's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy (10 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_505
European Commission: Remarks by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides in the Plenary of the European Parliament on the EU Vaccine Strategy (10 February 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_525
European Parliament: Press Release, 10/02/2021: COVID-19 vaccination: MEPs call for EU and global solidarity https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210204IPR97104/
ESO Records
Coronavirus Global Response Initiative https://www.europeansources.info/record/coronavirus-global-response/
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