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A30 world news
Diahuebs 21 Januari 2021

Delay in Pfizer vaccine shipments frustrate Europe, Canada

produce 1.3 billion doses this year.

“We’ve explored innovative ways to
increase the number of doses we’re
able to supply this year, and we now
believe that we can potentially deliver
approximately 2 billion doses by the
end of 2021," the company said in a
statement.

But even if that point is understood,
many officials in Europe said they
were disappointed by what they saw
as a lack of smooth communication.

“The problem lies mainly with Pfiz-
er’s short notice announcement,”
German Health Minister Jens Spahn
said. “That’s an upsetting issue.”

“I understand the reason that (plants)
have to be converted in the short
term to increase capacity in the medi-
um and long term,” he said. “But it’s
very unsatisfying that this was...com-
municated to us basically overnight.”
The urgency and anticipation to get
the vaccines rolling in the 27-nation
EU, where 400,000 people with the
virus have died, is also matched in
(AP) — Frustration is mounting said would last for a few weeks, af- “It is of utmost importance that we Canada, a nation of 37 million which
from Europe to North America fects not only the number of people get the doses that are fixed in the con- has a pandemic death toll of over
over reduced shipments of Pfiz- who can get inoculated during that tract” the EU's executive commission 18,000.
er’s COVID-19 vaccine while the period but also throws off the care- negotiated on behalf of member na-
U.S. pharmaceutical company in- ful choreography that governments tions, she said. Overall, the EU is Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin, who is lead-
creases production capacity at its mapped out to get elderly residents slated to get up to 600 million doses ing Canada’s logistical rollout and
Belgian plant. Governments say and caregivers the required two doses from Pfizer. distribution of vaccines, said Pfizer
it is costing critical time during within a strict timetable of several deferred next week’s deliveries en-
the early stages of the rollout to weeks. A number of U.S. states also are re- tirely and that there will be a signifi-
care homes and hospital person- porting difficulty getting their hands cant decline in vaccine supplies over
nel. “It means huge complications for on enough vaccines. The full expla- the next three weeks.
us,” Czech Prime Minister Andrej nation for the apparent mismatch
Italy has threatened legal action. The Babis said. Similar complaints could between supply and demand was un- Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the
leader of Canada's most populous be heard in several other EU nations, clear, but last week the U.S. Health shortfall is more than an annoying lo-
province said Pfizer's chief executive from Denmark to Belgium. and Human Services Department gistical inconvenience.
should be chased “with a firecracker." suggested that states had unrealistic
A top European Union official icily “Indeed," added European Commis- expectations for how much vaccine “I’m just angry at the situation, that
invoked the principle of “pacta sunt sion President Ursula von der Leyen, was on the way. other countries are getting it,” Ford
servanda," a Latin phrase meaning “we were all surprised by the an- said. He said if he were Canadian
"agreements must be kept." nouncement of Pfizer-BioNTech to In Europe, the harsh criticism of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he’d
have a delay.” Pfizer stands in sharp contrast to the be calling Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla
The EU and many nations are un- The EU now expects Pfizer to de- accolades the company received last every day and going at him “with a
der pressure for what is seen as the liver across the 27-nation bloc 92% month for being exceptionally fast in firecracker.”
slow start to their vaccination cam- of what was expected over this week producing a COVID-19 vaccine con-
paigns compared to countries like Is- and the next one. The missing 8% is sidered safe and effective. The Pfizer- "He wouldn’t know what hit him."
rael and the United Kingdom. Pfizer expected to be recovered during the BioNTech vaccine was the first vac- Ford added. “I would not stop until
compounded the problem last Friday week of Feb. 15 cine authorized for use in the U.K. we get these vaccines.”
when it announced a temporary re- the EU and the United States.
duction in deliveries so it could up- Von der Leyen said the immediate The European Union is likely to pur-
scale its Puurs, Belgium plant, which challenge would be securing enough Pfizer told The Associated Press late sue Pfizer with a different weapon
supplies all shots delivered outside doses to make sure people who al- Wednesday that any small step back- but equal fervor. The 27 leaders have
the United States. ready had their first shot of Pfizer wards taken now would result in a a video summit scheduled Thursday
vaccine received their second jab huge jump ahead later in the year. where the rollout of vaccines will be
The delay, which the pharma giant within the recommended interval. The company originally expected to a key issue.

Albanian soldier dies in Afghanistan peacekeeping mission

(AP) — Albania’s Defense Ministry on The ministry said that the Albanian military was The ministry expressed condolences to the family
Wednesday reported the death of a soldier in assisting an investigation by the command of the and “assure the personnel in the mission and their
Afghanistan, the second from the tiny West- Resolute Support Mission operation in Afghani- families of continuous support in the successful ac-
ern Balkan country to die during the interna- stan, made up of around 16,000 troops from 38 complishment of their mission.”
tional peacekeeping mission. countries.
Defense Minister Niko Peleshi communicated
The soldier, identified as Xhevahir Jazaj, died Tues- Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has been with both army contingents in Herat and Kabul,
day night at 1810 GMT (1:10 p.m. EST), the min- part of the international mission since 2010. The saying that they “are our pride in relations with ...
istry said in a statement. It didn't specify the loca- country currently has 99 troops in Afghanistan, lo- NATO and our strategic partners, the U.S. and
tion or give any details about the circumstances. cated at two bases in Herat and Kabul. EU.”