EU Commission exposes Greek health minister over COVID-19 vaccine

By Sarantis Michalopoulos*

Asked by EURACTIV, EU spokesperson Vivian Loonela said: “We are in a situation where we cannot tell the exact date of delivery. We are working to have the vaccine ready as fast as possible as well as safe as possible.”

Loonela added that the executive is currently in talks with several pharma companies to make sure enough vaccines are available for EU member states as well as for donations to low-income countries.

Last week, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announced a first deal with British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca to purchase a potential vaccine against COVID-19.

According to the agreement, the EU will purchase on behalf of EU member states 300 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, with an option to purchase 100 million more.

Speaking on TV, Greek health minister Vasilis Kikilias said once the AstraZeneca vaccine passes the last testing phase, Greece would receive 700,000 doses in December and overall some three million doses until June 2021.

However, the Commission made it clear that no delivery date has been given to EU member states considering that the testing phases are still underway.

The executive hopes that a vaccine could be ready by the end of 2020 or beginning of next year, in line with industry projections.

Nathalie Moll, the director-general of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), said in April that a vaccine could be available in the beginning of 2021 if the testing phase is successful.

Strong reactions in Athens

The Commission’s statement triggered strong reactions in Athens, with the main leftist opposition Syriza party accusing the right-wing New Democracy government (EPP) of populism.

“If it weren’t for such a serious issue it would be almost ridiculous […] Cheap government populism playing with citizens’ anguish is both unacceptable and dangerous,” Syriza said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the country reported yesterday a new record of 269 new coronavirus cases and two new deaths. The total number of COVID-10 cases has reached 7,472.

The government claims that the vast majority of cases occurred domestically and are not related to tourism. Many cases are also related to young people.

Meanwhile, the opposition accused the government of inefficient preparation against a second wave of infection and called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to stop putting the blame on young people.

*First published at Euractiv.com