France 24
AstraZeneca to reduce EU Covid vaccine deliveries following production problems
The European Union is facing further shortfalls in its coronavirus inoculation programme after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said production problems and export restrictions would reduce planned deliveries of its vaccine. The Anglo/Swedish firm’s image has already taken a hit with several countries suspending the rollout of its vaccine over blood clot fears, even as the World Health Organization said there was no reason to stop using it.It is just the latest blow for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the cheapest vaccine aimed at fighting back against a pandemic that has claimed more than 2.6 million lives worldwide. Germany has already reported adverse effects due to the delay, the state of Thuringia cancelling appointments and suspending a pilot project for general practitioners to administer the vaccine.>> How the EU’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout became an ‘advert for Brexit’The head of the country’s disease control agency Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, meanwhile warned that “the third wave has already started in Germany”.Despite the worrying signs, thousands joined protests in German cities on Saturday against anti-Covid measures.France on a ‘razor’s edge’, says PMFrench Prime Minister Jean Castex said his government still expected to exceed its target of 10 million vaccinated by April 15, though he said some labs were not respecting delivery deadlines.Castex defended…
