Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
25.3.2021
1 and 2. Vaccination is not a race between countries, but is a race against time and against the virus. The EU is committed to ensuring equitable and fair access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. That is why the EU has been leading the international negotiations in this field from the start. The EU is supporting the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility[1], which is leading efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines accessible at global level in a fair and equitable manner. COVAX is the world’s best and main route for delivering on international vaccines solidarity.
In addition to EU financial support to COVAX, the Commission is setting up an EU mechanism to facilitate the sharing, including through COVAX, of vaccines procured by EU Member States, under a common Team Europe approach. Special attention is planned to be given under this mechanism to the western Balkans, the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood and Africa. This could primarily benefit health and care workers, as well as elderly and humanitarian needs.
3. The EU has been among the architects of COVAX from the outset of the pandemic. The EU, the European Investment Bank and EU Member States are among the largest contributors to COVAX with more than EUR 2.2 billion[2] to help secure at least 1.3 billion doses of vaccines for 92 low and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. The EU is represented in the COVAX governance structure, thereby giving visibility to EU’s support provided to the facility. EU Delegations around the world are also accompanying the roll-out of vaccines procured by COVAX.