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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 January 2021
EU rejects criticism for slow vaccine rollout across bloc

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN philosophy was to diversify
Associated Press our portfolio, not to put all
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Euro- our eggs in one basket.”
pean Commission defend- De Keersmaecker said the
ed its coronavirus vaccina- contract with Moderna
tion strategy Monday amid provides for an initial pur-
growing criticism in mem- chase of 80 million doses
ber states about the slow on behalf of all EU nations
rollout of COVID-19 shots but that the commission
across the region of 450 mil- intends to use its option
lion inhabitants. to request a further 80 mil-
Vaccinations programs in lion doses once the vac-
the 27 nation-bloc have cine is approved. With the
gotten off to a slow start Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,
and some EU members the commission has an op-
have been quick to blame tion for an extra 100 million
the EU’s executive arm for doses that will bring the to-
a perceived failure of de- tal to 300 million shots. Both
livering the right amount vaccines require two shots
of doses. In Finland, health to be fully effective. The
authorities are reportedly Commission added with-
unhappy that the coun- out elaborating that it is in
try only received about negotiation with Pfizer and
40,000 doses in December, A nurse prepares a vaccine prior to the vaccination of elderly people at a nursing house in Athens, BioNTech for the purchase
instead of the 300,000 that Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. of additional doses
were expected. Associated Press The slow rollout of vaccines
Facing a barrage of ques- EU has sealed six vaccines ing “has not concluded the vaccine producers of has sparked widespread
tions on vaccines during a contracts, with Moderna, today” and would con- their choice. “Ultimately, disappointment across
news conference, EU Com- AstraZeneca, Sanofi-GSK, tinue Wednesday. It said it these vaccines have to be the bloc. The cautious ap-
mission spokesman Eric Janssen Pharmaceutica wouldn’t comment further. produced, delivered, and proach has seen just a few
Mamer said the main prob- NV, Pfizer-BioNTech and Mamer also clarified the some of the logistic chains hundred people vacci-
lem with the deployment CureVac. But only the Pfiz- role of the commission in involved are very sophisti- nated in France after the
of vaccination programs er-BioNTech vaccine has securing contracts with cated,” Mamer said, insist- first week, while the Dutch
“is an issue of production been approved for use so potential drug makers. He ing that vaccination pro- government faced criti-
capacity, an issue that ev- far in the 27-nation bloc. said the executive’s arm grams have just started, cism for its late start in deliv-
erybody is facing.” The European Medicines “acted as an investor” to and that the big deliver- ering vaccinations, lagging
“We have actually signed Agency’s human medi- provide funding to phar- ies of doses are foreseen well behind many other
contracts that would al- cines committee met Mon- maceutical companies around April. Asked why EU nations. Consequently,
low member states to get day to discuss the Moderna developing vaccines. The the Commission did not the Dutch health ministry
access to 2 billion doses, vaccine, but didn’t issue a goal was to speed up pro- buy more doses of the Pfiz- said it is bringing forward
largely enough to vacci- recommendation for it to duction capacities and re- er/BioNTech vaccine, Ste- the start of vaccinations
nate the whole of the EU be given the green light for search, with all EU nations fan de Keersmaecker, the by two days, with the first
population,” he said. use in the EU. The agency free to decide how many Commission’s health policy shots being administered
As part of its strategy, the tweeted that the meet- doses they would buy from spokesman, said the “main Wednesday.q

Alberta leader reverses course, punishes for pandemic travel

By ROB GILLIES of his government after he Thursday after being or-
Associated Press said he learned of travel dered home by Ontario
TORONTO (AP) — Alber- abroad by a number of Conservative Premier Doug
ta’s premier has reversed people in his government. Ford.
course and is now punish- “Over the weekend I have Federal opposition Conser-
ing members of his govern- listened to Albertans who vative Senate leader Don
ment for vacationing out- are sending a clear mes- Plett also traveled to Mexi-
side Canada despite gov- sage that they want real co on Dec. 28 for personal
ernment guidelines urging consequences,” Kenney reasons, a spokesperson for
people to avoid nonessen- tweeted Monday. his office said in an email.
tial travel during the pan- Politicians travelling abroad “Senator Plett travelled to
demic. for vacations during the Mexico on December 28th,
Premier Jason Kenney said pandemic became a big upon arrival he reflected
Monday he asked his chief story in Canada last week on his decision to travel
of staff to resign and ac- after it became known that and immediately made ar-
cepted the resignation of Ontario’s finance minister rangements to return home This June 9, 2015 file photo shows then-Canadian Defence
his Municipal Affairs minis- went to the luxury Carib- on December 31st,” the Minister Jason Kenney in Warsaw, Poland.
ter. Several other members bean island of St. Barts for statement said. Associated Press
of his United Conservative weeks and seemingly tried Before he traveled, Plett
party have also been de- to hide the fact by sending posted a video message on us to change some of those da’s Conservative leader
moted for travelling outside social media posts showing twitter where he tells Cana- traditions, since we cannot said federal conservative
Canada. him in a sweater before a dians this Christmas will be travel and gather as we party lawmakers were told
Kenney said last week he fireplace. different this year because normally would.” not to travel before the hol-
would not punish members Rod Phillips resigned last “the pandemic has forced A spokesperson for Cana- idays. q