Vaccinations are proceeding at the pace allowed by world production capacity.Vaccination rates in EU countries depend on many factors, including vaccine production and distribution from manufacturers to EU countries.
Aware of this, in the early stages of the pandemic, the European Commission offered financial support to vaccine developers to help them increase their production capacities in exchange for their commitment to supply billions of vaccine doses.
The Commission has authorized contracts with several vaccine manufacturers, ordering 2.3 billion doses of future vaccines to maximize the chances of getting the best vaccine or vaccines. The EU bought the vaccine doses as soon as they were made available by the manufacturers.
The first doses of the vaccine were delivered to EU countries before the European Vaccination Days of 27-29 December 2020, but the distribution of vaccines thereafter depends on national and regional organizations and their level of preparedness.COVID-19 vaccines safe for EuropeansCheck out the ECDC Vaccine Tracker (updated twice a week)
For an overview of the Commission’s response to the coronavirus pandemic See the questions and answers contained in the Commission release on COVID-19 vaccination in the EUHealth policies are the responsibility of the Member States. The Commission coordinates cross-border issues and provides support.
The European Commission supports European countries and helps coordinate efforts in times of crisis. By stepping up coordination between European countries, strengthening medical and scientific agencies and launching initiatives such as the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, the Commission is preparing to tackle future cross-border health crises.
In the area of health, primary responsibility will always lie with the Member States, which are responsible for their own policies.Find out more about the European Health Union Information on the division of competences between the EU and the Member States COVID-19 vaccines undergo several rounds of rigorous testing and peer reviews before being approved.
The vaccine approval process is both meticulous and transparent. COVID-19 vaccines must pass three stages of clinical trials and meet high standards before the European Medicines Agency (EMA) makes a positive scientific recommendation and the European Commission authorizes their public use, just like any other vaccine.
Pharmaceutical companies carry out such clinical trials according to the rules established by the EMA to verify the effects of the medicines tested and to protect the well-being of the subjects undergoing trials. In addition, all clinical trials are registered in the dedicated EU database EudraCT, where information about them is freely accessible to the public. The process is transparent because anyone can access the data.