European Union Tightens Export Controls on COVID-19 Vaccines

Strategic Insights -

The European Union (EU) has announced plans to tighten export controls on COVID-19 vaccines to ensure sufficient supplies for its citizens, citing the worsening pandemic in the continent. Under the new policy, export licenses will be granted on the basis of reciprocity and "proportionality," taking into account the epidemiological situation, vaccination rate, and access to vaccines in the destination country. This move comes after European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen expressed frustration over the EU's vaccine exports, with some countries receiving more doses than they were sending back.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union has announced a new policy to tighten export controls on COVID-19 vaccines, prioritizing supplies for its citizens.
  • The policy will be based on reciprocity and "proportionality," considering factors such as the epidemiological situation, vaccination rate, and access to vaccines in the destination country.
  • The move aims to address the EU's frustration over exporting more vaccines than it was receiving from some countries, including Britain, which has received about ten million doses and sent nothing back.
  • EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides insists the policy is not about punishing anyone, but rather a response to the worsening pandemic in Europe.
  • The US-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center reports over 124.2 million total COVID-19 infections and 2.7 million deaths worldwide, with the United States leading in both categories.
  • Neighboring countries, Hong Kong and Macau, have suspended the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine due to packaging defects in a shipment.

Statistics:

  • 124.2 million total COVID-19 infections worldwide (Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center)
  • 2.7 million deaths worldwide (Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center)
  • 29.9 million total COVID-19 infections in the United States
  • 543,849 deaths in the United States
  • Ten million doses of European-made vaccines exported to Britain, with no doses received in return

Sources:

  • Voice of America (VOA)
  • European Union (EU)
  • Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center