The European Commission has unveiled the European vaccines strategy, which will accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of vaccines against COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic a vaccine has been seen as the best permanent solution to the coronavirus outbreak. The new strategy proposes a joint EU approach, building on the mandate from EU health ministers.
The Commission will mobilise to support vaccine developers in clinical trials and capacity building.
The objectives are:
Ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of vaccines
Securing swift access to vaccines for Member States and their populations while leading global solidarity efforts
Ensuring equitable access to an affordable vaccine.
It rests on two pillars:
Securing the production and a sufficient supply of vaccines in the EU
Adapting the EU's regulatory framework to the current urgency and making use of existing regulatory flexibility.