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German Health Minister Jens Spahn said the European Union hopes to secure a final agreement “in the next few days” with German firm BioNTech and their US partner Pfizer after the companies announced a highly effective coronavirus vaccine. .
Spahn, who personally contracted COVID-19 in late October, said it’s important that Germany and the rest of the EU don’t lag behind in introducing the vaccine.
“Obviously we could not explain to Europeans and especially Germans if a vaccine would be available and [distributed] in the USA or other regions of the world, but not in Germany and Europe “.
Spahn says he hopes to secure 100 million doses for Germany, but that the EU is trying to negotiate at the bloc level.
This is an evolving story and will be updated as Spahn’s observations continue to emerge.
What’s the latest on the vaccine?
On Monday, German company BioNTech and US company Pfizer said their jointly produced vaccine is 90% effective in preventing COVID-19. The announcement represents a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, although the vaccine is still being tested in Phase II trials.
The researchers say they found no safety issues in their tests, although they will need to continue testing. BioNTech said the immunization effect could “last at least a year,” but the duration of the effect remains to be seen.
Read more: Meet the German couple behind the COVID-19 vaccine
When will the vaccine be available?
Although researchers and health agencies are working as quickly as possible, public safety and trust remain top priorities. The German government and others in Europe made it clear that they would not introduce the vaccine until they were sure of its safety.
German lawmaker Dr. Andrew UIllmann told DW there was to be a discussion on how any vaccine would be distributed.
“We can’t say America first or Europe first,” he said. “Because we have a global responsibility in the global health arena.”
Countries around the world are clamoring to sign contracts for millions of doses. Spahn of Germany said on Monday that the vaccine is not expected to hit the market in 2020, but may be expected in the first three months of 2021. The British government, on the other hand, asked its national health service on Tuesday to prepare to distribute it from beginning of December.
rs / rt (AFP, Reuters)
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