Although Europe has been able to improve its vaccination rates, it does not help much in the fight against the coronavirus. In the euro area, the epidemiological situation is still out of control. On top of that, the latest data has indicated that things are getting worse.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said that the noticeable deterioration of the epidemiological situation in the region occurred due to low rates of vaccination. She noted that the immunization coverage lowered after more than 10 European countries suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Moreover, vaccine manufacturers are experiencing production difficulties. There are concerns that other vaccine producers may also fail to meet demand.
New strains of the infection have been identified in the eurozone. Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the EU would soon face the third wave, calling on countries to accelerate the pace of vaccination. "The number of cases is increasing exponentially due to the advance of the more contagious virus variant B.1.1.7. We are in the third wave. The situation is serious," Chancellor Angela Merkel pinpointed.
Currently, AstraZeneca represents the weakest link in the supply chain. It failed to produce the necessary amount of the drug. Pfizer and Moderna are still operating in strict accordance with the agreement.
Reputable news agencies have also reported that the third wave of coronavirus has swept Europe. Recently, The Guardian noted that the daily increase in new COVID-19 cases in Europe has reached record levels since the beginning of February. The governments were forced to re-impose quarantine restrictions, curfews and, even lockdown measures.
