The European Union has been criticised for the slow pace of coronavirus vaccinations in its member states.
It has introduced export controls on vaccines produced in the EU after its rollout was hit by supply problems and delays. They were used for the first time on 4 March, when Italy blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia.
The scheme, set up in June 2020, allows the EU to negotiate the purchase of vaccines on behalf of its member states. It says this can help reduce costs and avoid competition between them.
Member states do not have to join the scheme, but all 27 EU countries chose to do so.
Read more at:
Covid: What’s the problem with the EU vaccine rollout? - BBC News
