As countries in Europe struggle to increase the pace of COVID-19 vaccination rates, the European Commission reiterated its stance on export regulations for vaccines.
According to Bloomberg on Monday,… the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen,… said the EU cannot allow exports, if companies do not deliver the promised amounts.
This comes as AstraZeneca failed to deliver the contracted amount to the bloc for the first quarter,.. with only 10-percent being sent.
She also added that she supports Italy's decision to block the shipment of AstraZeneca's vaccine to Australia,… EU's first intervention with COVID-19 vaccine supplies.
Earlier this year, AstraZeneca stated that it would be delivering fewer doses to the EU due to production issues,… but the European Commission says monthly output will soon be doubled.
Over in Israel, inoculation rates are accelerating,… as they celebrated the country's 5 millionth COVID-19 vaccination on Monday.
According to figures released by the health ministry, of the 5 million people vaccinated with single shots, nearly 3.8 million citizens have also received the second dose.
This is over 40-percent of the total population.
Israel's Prime Minister also predicted that all adults over the age of 16 will be able to get vaccinated by the end of April.
Meanwhile, Iran is expecting some 3.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by South Korea,… before the year ends.
The Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Monday,… that this will be part of the 4.2 million doses of vaccines provided by the COVAX facility.
AstraZeneca's vaccine manufactured by South Korea's SK Bioscience was authorized for emergency use last month.
Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.
01:39
S. Korea reports 731 new COVID-19 cases on Wed.; health authorities warn about fourth wave
01:45
02:17
02:09
00:40
01:40
02:03
02:28
