EU may block export of some COVID-19 vaccines for jab ramp-up

CGTN

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The European Union may block further exports of some COVID-19 vaccines, following the Italian government's decision to block the export of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday.

AstraZeneca "delivered less than 10 percent of the amount ordered by the EU for the period from December to March," von der Leyen said, adding that EU had expected to receive 100 million vaccines from the company as of March, meaning there is a shortfall of about 90 million doses.

Von der Leyen said she expected the bloc to receive 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccines every month from April. The much-needed boost would come due to higher delivery volumes and "because more vaccines are about to be approved."