Brussels, April 24 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen brought forward the expected date for the European Union (EU) to vaccinate its 70 per cent of adult population by nearly two months. 
 
Speaking after visiting Pfizer`s vaccine plant in Puurs, Belgium, where the main vaccine used so far in the EU has been produced, von der Leyen said the goal could be achieved by the end of July instead of late September as had been previously predicted, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. 
 
"With the enormous efforts of BioNTech-Pfizer and the acceleration of their vaccine deliveries, I am now confident that we will have sufficient doses to vaccinate 70 per cent of the adult population in the European Union already in July," she said, commending the two joint partners as "strong and reliable suppliers." 
 
She expressed her satisfaction that "the EU`s vaccination campaign is on track," passing the mark of 150 million doses delivered and 123 million vaccinations deployed. This made the bloc "among the top three in terms of Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide, after the United States and China." 
 
She said her commission was close to concluding a deal with BioNTech and Pfizer to supply 1.8 billion additional vaccine doses for 2022 and 2023. 
 
"We will conclude it in the next days. It will secure the doses necessary to give booster shots to increase our immunity against the virus. It will provide vaccines adapted to escape variants that no longer respond to the vaccines," she told a press conference. 
 
Von der Leyen said the European Medicines Agency had approved the increase of the site`s production capacity by a further 20 per cent, making it one of the biggest vaccine fill and finish sites in Europe.

Brussels, April 24 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen brought forward the expected date for the European Union (EU) to vaccinate its 70 per cent of adult population by nearly two months.

Brussels, April 24 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen brought forward the expected date for the European Union (EU) to vaccinate its 70 per cent of adult population by nearly two months. Speaking after visiting Pfizer`s vaccine plant in Puurs, Belgium, where the main vaccine used so far in the EU has been produced, von der Leyen said the goal could be achieved by the end of July instead of late September as had been previously predicted, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. "With the enormous efforts of BioNTech-Pfizer and the acceleration of their vaccine deliveries, I am now confident that we will have sufficient doses to vaccinate 70 per cent of the adult population in the European Union already in July," she said, commending the two joint partners as "strong and reliable suppliers." She expressed her satisfaction that "the EU`s vaccination campaign is on track," passing the mark of 150 million doses delivered and 123 million vaccinations deployed. This made the bloc "among the top three in terms of Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide, after the United States and China." She said her commission was close to concluding a deal with BioNTech and Pfizer to supply 1.8 billion additional vaccine doses for 2022 and 2023. "We will conclude it in the next days. It will secure the doses necessary to give booster shots to increase our immunity against the virus. It will provide vaccines adapted to escape variants that no longer respond to the vaccines," she told a press conference. Von der Leyen said the European Medicines Agency had approved the increase of the site`s production capacity by a further 20 per cent, making it one of the biggest vaccine fill and finish sites in Europe.

EU likely to vaccinate 70% adult population by end of July

India has decided to fast-track approval for COVID-19 vaccines developed in another countries. This comes after reports of vaccine shortages in certain states in the middle of worrying second wave of Coronavirus.

India to fast-track approval for foreign-made COVID-19 vaccines

Watch Gravitas Plus with Palki Sharma - Dominica sent an SOS letter to India. - U.K, and Belgium want to procure Indian vaccines. - India's Vaccine Maitri is healing its neighbours. - Brazil, Morocco received their first consignment from India. -The World is leaning on India for Wuhan Virus vaccination.

Gravitas Plus: India sets an example with Vaccine Maitri

According to reports, India's Covaxin vaccine for the Coronavirus could be ready by February next year. The question of course is how safe is this? WION brings you a report.

India made Coronavirus vaccine to be ready by February?

Moderna has said that it is on track to report early data from a late stage trial of it's experimental COVID-19 vaccine as early as next month. Watch the report to know more.

Moderna preparing to launch covid-19 vaccine