Ursula von der Leyen: EU vaccinations are catching up with the US

European Commission chief wants 70 per cent of adults offered at least one dose by end of July

Lea Wittenborg, right, tests her colleague Annika Tschirbs at the Engel pharmacy in Soest, Germany. Germany's coronavirus infection rate dropped to its lowest level in nearly two months on Friday. AP Photo

Residents queue at a sports hall to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease in Berlin, Germany. Reuters

A woman wearing a face mask walks on a bridge over the river Main in Frankfurt, Germany. AP Photo

People are vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Barcelona, Spain. Spaniards under 60 were invited to receive a vaccination this week, with a target set to vaccinate 70 percent of Spain's population by the end of August. Getty Images

Tourists leave the international airport of Heraklion upon their arrival to spend their holidays on the island of Crete. Greece kickstarts its tourism season on May 14, with both the government and travel operators hoping the lure of sun, sand and sea will bring a sorely needed revenue boost. AFP

People visit the Acropolis Museum, as museums open following the easing of measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease in Athens, Greece. Reuters

A drone photo of participants of a march to express dissatisfaction with the coronavirus restrictive measures in Den Bosch, the Netherlands. EPA

Preparations are underway on the beach of Bagno Elena in Naples, Italy, as the historic seaside resort of Posillipo will reopen to the public this weekend. EPA

Employees attend a meeting at the Paris Zoological Park in the Bois de Vincennes before the reopening in France. Reuters

People queue outside a mass vaccination center in Paris, France. Reuters

The EU’s Covid vaccination campaign is catching up with the US’s programme despite the bloc exporting 220 million doses, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

Ms von der Leyen has criticised, often indirectly, countries such as the US and UK, suggesting that they have hoarded Covid vaccines.

The beginning of the EU’s inoculation drive suffered intense criticism earlier this year for its sluggish pace, which saw it lag behind countries such as the UAE, Israel, the UK and the US.

But Ms von der Leyen said the EU has exported 220 million jabs, nearly as many as it has used for its own citizens.

"We aim to have offered a jab to 70 per cent of all adults by the end of July … this is almost the same target as the one the US has set," she said.

President Joe Biden wants 70 per cent of US adults to have received at least one dose by July 4.

The US has exported 4.5 million doses until now, but plans to send another 80 million over the next six weeks.

"Others are keeping their entire vaccine production all to themselves, but the EU will reach its vaccination targets without sealing itself off from the world,” Ms von der Leyen said.

Her comments came as the World Health Organisation's senior Europe official warned against international travel. Hans Kluge said the Indian variant of Covid-19, which appears to be more transmissible, had been found in nearly half of WHO Europe region countries.

"Right now, in the face of a continued threat and new uncertainty, we need to continue to exercise caution, and rethink or avoid international travel," he said.

Dr Kluge also said approved Covid vaccines were effective against the variants that have emerged but warned "the pandemic is not over yet".

"We are heading in the right direction, but need to keep a watchful eye," he said. "In several countries, there are pockets of increasing transmission that could quickly evolve into dangerous resurgences".