BRIEF—EU has now delivered 1 billion vaccine doses to the world

The European Union has exported over 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide, over the past 10 months, marking an important milestone, according to a statement today by President Ursula von der Leyen.

Vaccines produced in the EU have been shipped to more than 150 countries on all continents – from Japan to Turkey, from the UK to New Zealand, from South Africa to Brazil.

Around 87 million doses to low- and middle-income countries through COVAX.

Very clearly, the European Union is the largest exporter of COVID-19 vaccines, she noted.

Also, more than 75% of adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated.

Together with US President Biden, thee EU aims for a global vaccination rate of 70% by next year.

The EU-US Agenda for Beating the Global Pandemic will help achieve that.

On top of its exports, the EU will donate in the next months at least 500 million doses to the most vulnerable countries. But other countries need to step up, too, Mrs von der Leyen warned.