Europe seeks common position on how long COVID vaccines last

European Union countries want to reach an agreement on how long COVID-19 vaccines protect people and how to manage booster doses as they try to counter the fourth wave of the pandemic and ensure freedom of travel.

“We must agree on a common rule about when vaccines expire and when the booster should be given”, The Minister of Foreign Relations of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, in the framework of a meeting of European Affairs ministers in Brussels on Tuesday.

“It cannot be different in Luxembourg than it is in Greece, Germany or France. This is totally against the interests of European citizens”.

Ministers are discussing ways to step up COVID-19 vaccination campaigns that have yielded mixed results in the EU as low success rates abound in eastern European nations. They will also assess how to counter vaccine misinformation.

“Reinforcements are priority number one”He said before the talks Michael Roth, Deputy Foreign Minister of Germany. “This also affects the digital vaccination pass. We need to work harder here to make sure that as many people as possible can move freely within the EU”.

European governments are adopting a jarring policy mix as the disease accelerates. Austria has reimposed a lockdown, Germany says it can’t rule it out and France, where Prime Minister Jean Castex tested positive for COVID, is tightening health checks in closed areas. Belgium ordered compulsory work from home four days a week.

Several ministers said EU states should agree how long after the second dose the booster should be given and how to incorporate it into the COVID-19 vaccination certificates that are being used by governments across the bloc to regulate travel and travel. access to a number of facilities.

There are currently no plans to stop travel, but the evolution of the pandemic and possible containment measures could end up affecting travel even for people with their vaccinations in order.