Medical staff members check the information of a patient at the pulmonology unit of the AP-HP Cochin Hospital in Paris on March 18, 2021, as the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 is increasing in the French capital.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT | AFP | Getty Images
More than a year after the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic, Europe continues to fight the virus amid a third wave of infections and intensifying blockade measures.
At the same time, the launch of the vaccination block remains slow, affected by production and supply problems, as European Union leaders meet this week to discuss – once again – the introduction of possible export bans on vaccines.
It happens that a handful of countries reintroduce blockages to reduce a third wave of infections, with France, Poland and Ukraine implementing all the stricter measures over the weekend, which will last at least a few weeks.
A partial one-month blockade was reintroduced in Paris on Saturday, as well as in 15 other regions in France, in an effort to overcome the growing number of cases largely attributed to the new, more infectious Covid variants.
The last partial blockade is less strict than the previous ones, but it has led some to question the purpose of such a move, while others have said the new measures are confusing. There is still a coverage option and interregional travel remains effectively banned. About 21 million people in France are affected by the new rules.
The country reported more than 30,000 new cases daily on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to more than 4.2 million. To date, more than 92,000 people have died from the virus in France.
Meanwhile, Germany, Europe’s largest economy, could extend its national stalemate in April as the country struggles with a third wave of Covid-19 cases. Several states have called for an extension of the current restrictions, as the Covid incidence rate has exceeded 100 cases per 100,000 people, a level that the government previously said would lead it to implement an “emergency brake” – a blocking the lifting of blocking measures – to prevent further spread.
The move would be a blow to Germany, which had begun easing blockades, allowing schools to reopen in February and some non-essential stores to re-admit customers earlier this month.
The vaccine is being fought
As much of the EU is facing an increase in coronavirus cases, the launch of the block vaccine remains slow and controversial.
EU leaders are due to meet on Thursday to discuss whether to block vaccine exports, while reserves in the region remain insufficient and its vaccination program lags behind those in other developed countries.
The EU was criticized for mass control of coronavirus vaccines later by the UK and the US and later had to deal with supply problems, despite two of the vaccines it authorized for use – Pfizer-BioNTech photos and AstraZeneca-Oxford University – being manufactured in the EU.
There are reports that the EU could block exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine to a Dutch factory – a move that could jeopardize the successful launch of the vaccine in the UK so far. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to address his European counterparts to try to resolve the impasse over vaccines.
The launch of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine has faced several obstacles in recent weeks, with a handful of European countries suspending the use of the shot due to concerns about a possible link to blood clot reports.
The World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency have carried out safety analyzes on the vaccine, the latter deciding last Thursday that it is safe and effective and the benefits outweigh any risks.
The conclusion led to a reversal of the suspension of the vaccine in most (but not all) European countries that have stopped using it, but this action could affect public confidence in the vaccine, which was already shaking due to wrong questions about the effectiveness of the vaccine. over 65 years.
Real-world data has since shown that the vaccine is extremely effective in reducing severe cases of Covid, hospitalizations and adult deaths. The vaccine received a new impetus on Monday, when the results of a large US study were published, which show that the AstraZeneca vaccine is 79% effective in preventing symptomatic diseases and 100% effective against severe diseases and hospitalization.
However, a YouGov poll published on Monday showed that the decision of some European nations to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine “has greatly affected public perceptions of vaccine safety in Europe”.
The survey, conducted in seven European countries (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Denmark and Sweden) on March 15-18 showed that people were more likely to see the vaccine as unsafe than safe in France, Germany, Spain. and Italy. It should be noted that the survey was conducted during the week in which the safety credentials of the vaccine were questioned and, in particular, before the EMA published its safety decision on shooting.