Most EU countries will have enough by the end of June coronavirus vaccines to vaccinate the majority of their citizens, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday (6/4) citing an internal memo.
Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will be able to fully vaccinate over 55% of their populations by the end of June, is indicated in the relevant report, which refers to forecasts of the European Commission contained in the memorandum.
The figures confirm public estimates of the vaccines the 27-nation bloc expects to receive in the second quarter of the year.
The Commission, as reported by the Athens News Agency, has repeatedly stated that the EU, which has a population of almost 450 million, will receive about 360 million doses by the end of June in addition to the almost 100 million it has already received.
These will be enough to meet the goal vaccination at least 70% of the adult population of the block by summer.
THE EU expects to receive 55 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine and another 300 million doses of BioNTech-Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna two-dose vaccines in April-June.
However, it is not clear whether all the expected installments will be received by the countries on the predetermined dates.
The European Union received almost half of the expected installments in the first quarter because AstraZeneca made significant cuts in vaccine supplies to the EU during that period.
The new estimates already include a further large cut in AstraZeneca supplies in the second quarter.
It is noted that the EU has coordinated the vaccine market with the governments of the member states but has no say in the vaccination plans, defined by each country.
Deliveries depend on supplies as well as vaccination schedules, which have been repeatedly blocked in EU countries due to concerns about the efficacy and safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Vaccine deliveries increased in the block at the end of March after a slow start.
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