The European Commission has defended its policy of equitably distributing Covid-19 vaccines within the bloc, after Austria and five other member states complained that the doses were not distributed fairly among member states.
In a joint letter to the Commission and the European Council, the leaders of six European countries – Austria, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Latvia and Croatia – called for discussions on the distribution of vaccines.
The Commission responded that the doses are being distributed in proportion to the population of each country, taking into account the pandemic data, and that it is up to the governments of member states to decide how to distribute.
The Commission said that the flexible policy approved by European Union governments means that countries facing a more severe phase of the epidemic can get more doses if some governments choose not to receive their allocations. “It is up to the member states to reach an agreement,” the Commission said.
The Commission is being criticized for the slow introduction of vaccines in the countries of the bloc, despite the fact that European Union governments play the main role in purchasing vaccines and vaccination plans.
Source: wakalat