The European Union member states, the United Kingdom and EU partners have agreed on a vaccination plan against COVID-19, which provides for the vaccination of at least 40% of their population, Reuters reported.
The EU's target for early vaccination is double the target set by WHO, which aims to procure vaccines for 20% of the world's most vulnerable people through a global procurement scheme.
According to EU estimates, the proportion of the population requiring primary vaccination will be at least 40%, which will significantly reduce the availability of possible doses for less developed countries.
It is expected that the supply of vaccines that can be successful will be limited for a long period as production capacity is limited.
“Adding (up) all risk groups presently known will designate probably 40% of the population, depending on the situation and demography in countries,” said the document, adopted in late July by health experts from EU member states as well as Britain, Switzerland, Norway and Balkan countries.
The document classifies as “priority groups” more than 200 million of the 450 million EU population, including people with chronic diseases, the elderly, and healthcare workers.
Healthy people working in critical public services such as education and public transport are also included in the priority group, although no estimate is provided in the EU document.
The document says the plan's goal is to reach herd immunity for the EU population, which can be achieved through further vaccination campaigns after reaching the 40% target.
The document does not indicate how quickly it will be possible to achieve its goal but outlines the logistics that must be carried out for an extensive vaccination program.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has repeatedly stated that it supports a global, inclusive approach to COVID-19 vaccines, aimed at ensuring equal access for everyone in the world.
However, it is implementing what can be seen as the equivalent of a “Europe First” strategy that prioritizes the EU population, undermining the global approach.
The Commission has asked the 27 EU countries not to buy vaccines under the WHO procurement scheme and instead use exclusively the alternative EU plan, which it believes will be faster and cheaper. This approach could weaken global purchases, which are due to be paid by next week.
The Commission said it could offer financial support to the WHO scheme and donate vaccines purchased under the EU scheme.
The EU expects any vaccine available to be used with double inoculation, which will further reduce the doses available to developing countries.
