The pandemic is advancing inexorably and at a dizzying pace, the situation is quite serious and the European Union plans to step up its responses to stem the spread of infections. This is confirmed by the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, according to whom the EU is launching further measures in the fight against Covid-19.
The European Union and the war on the virus
Increase access to rapid tests, prepare vaccination campaigns to facilitate safe travel when needed. These are some of the proposals launched by von der Leyen who also invites the EU member states to collaborate. For the president of the European Commission "the bold measures taken will help save lives. No Member State will safely get out of this pandemic until they all do.
In the best possible scenario, the early purchase agreements for Covid vaccines we have with pharmaceutical companies have a range of 20-50 million doses delivered each month, as soon as the first companies are ready. If all the candidates we have for the production of vaccines were successful - emphasizes von der Leyen - in 2021 we will have 1 billion and 220 million vaccines. But even if all the candidates fail, we will be able to vaccinate 700 million people ”.
Password: coordination between states
"Tomorrow the heads of state and government will virtually meet, the goal - remarked von der Leyen - is precisely to coordinate better. I will ask them for greater sharing of data with the platform of the European Ecdc agency. We will create a European platform of national scientific consultants on Covid for the exchange of information and strategies ".
Member States should agree on the criteria to be used for the selection of rapid antigen tests. And, again, to detect Covid, and reach an agreement on the scenarios and settings during which it is appropriate to use these tests, such as in circumstances of high transmission. We read in the recommendation of the EU Commission on the test strategy which includes rapid tests. The document, adopted today by the college of commissioners, will be on the table of EU leaders tomorrow in the first videoconference consultation on coordination Covid.
The European Health Union
On 11 November, the European Commission will adopt a package of initiatives "to establish the first building blocks of a European health union". This is what we read in the Communication on additional anti-Covid measures, published today. The Commission wants to broaden the mandates of the ECDC and the EMA and propose a comprehensive approach to the preparation, surveillance and response to serious cross-border health threats.
The proposals will not only concern health policies but also transport, with measures to better integrate them in emergencies. We therefore think of a platform to monitor national vaccination strategies as they are implemented. Communication campaigns aimed at citizens against the risk of 'pandemic fatigue' are also planned. These are some of the measures announced by the European Commission to improve coordination between countries in the response to Covid.
Italy allocates 30 million euros for rapid tampons
Even the Italian government confirmed the establishment of permanent round tables for the solution of transport problems. The MIT (Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport) is evaluating the increase in the number of journeys at the same time as the times when the influx of people is greatest. "We have prepared - premier Giuseppe Conte reiterated - interventions aimed at strengthening the health response to the pandemic with resources of 30 million euros for rapid swabs with doctors and pediatricians. The renewal of the contract of certain categories will facilitate the involvement of general practitioners and pediatricians of free choice in the administration of the tampons themselves ".
