EU’s Vaccine Push to Face Difficulties in Coming Weeks

By Staff, Agencies

The European Union [EU] chief Charles Michel admitted Thursday that Europe's coronavirus vaccine rollout could continue to struggle for momentum in the coming weeks before picking up speed.

"We know that the next few weeks will continue to be difficult as far as vaccinations are concerned," Michel said after a video summit of 27 EU national leaders.

However, he added: "We do have the means, we have the resources, we have the capability to succeed over the next few months."

Relatively, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen echoed Michel's optimism in a separate statement, saying that the continental bloc will have "no problem" hitting its summer vaccination goals.

Fears over the continued fallout from the coronavirus epidemic persist in some EU countries, including France, where health officials said that without additional measures a spike in hospitalization may peak above the initial first wave of the crisis.

This rebound in hospitalizations, which has fallen slightly since the beginning of February, is linked to the progression of the British variant of the coronavirus, estimated 50% more contagious than the original strain.

French hospitals have recorded 9,362 hospitalizations over the last seven days, according to Public Health France, an average of 1,337 per day.