EU Vaccines Strategy and the issue of the availability of medicines

30.9.2021

Question for written answer  E-004474/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Bartosz Arłukowicz (PPE)

According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's Vaccine Registry, more than 70% of the EU’s adult population has received a full course of vaccination against COVID-19. No Member State alone has the capacity to invest in the development and production of a sufficient number of vaccines, so cooperation at EU level is essential.

Given that the stocks and availability of medicines in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic remain a cause for concern, and in light of the European Parliament resolution of 17 September 2020 on the shortage of medicines and the EU Vaccines Strategy adopted by the Commission in June 2020:

• 1.What happens to unused doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Member States?
• 2.What steps has the Commission taken to deal with the lack of availability of medicines in the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic?