Germany, Italy, New Zealand to begin COVID-19 vaccinations soon; check dates here

Germany is set to begin COVID-19 vaccinations on December 27 with first doses being provided to residents of elderly care homes, said European nation’s health minister Jens Spahn on December 26 as European Union (EU) is aiming for all 27 member states to begin coronavirus immunisation on same day. In a statement, Germany’s 16 state-level health ministers reportedly said Spahn h anunced that both expected approval as well supply of BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine with distribution will begin shortly before 2020 ends. 

Because Germany currently holds rotating EU presidency, it could also mean that December 27 could be date immunisations begin in all 27-member-states. Spahn’s statement came after French Prime Minister Jean Castex said that nation could begin COVID-19 vaccination “in last week of December” only if all conditions are met. Earlier, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said that all member states could begin on same day once Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for vel coronavirus is approved. Meanwhile, or nations have also started eyeing COVID-19 vaccinations as early as January 2021. 

German Health Minister said, "In se difficult days when virus shows us very clearly how hard it can strike, re is also reason to be confident: Vaccination is way out of this pandemic and we are well prepared on this path."

Italy

While Italy's health minister called COVID-19 vaccine as "light at end of tune", nation's coronavirus emergency commissioner Domenico Arcuri's proposal of starting mass vaccinations from January has also been approved on December 17. Relaying similar approach as or nations, Italy would also immunise high-risk groups before introducing same to general population.

New Zealand

What New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has reportedly called nation's "largest immunisation rollout ever" is her government's decision of rolling out free COVID-19 vaccines to its entire population from mid-2021. New Zealand government on December 17 assured that it has secured double-dose vaccines for all citizens and has planned to vaccinate border workers from second quarter of next year

Asia-Pacific

World Health Organisation (WHO) on December 17 said that all nations in Asia-pacific region are t guaranteed to receive early COVID-19 vaccinations and called leers to opt a long-term strategy to handle pandemic. WHO Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai told reporters in Indonesian capital, Jakarta that developing safe vaccine and its mass production are two different things. WHOs coordinator for essential medicines and health techlogies also cautioned that some nations would be able to start COVID-19 vaccinations in upcoming months, but same can be pushed as far as mid or late 2021 for or countries. 

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Meanwhile,  nations that have eir begun or have received first shipments or have proposed vaccine plans include United Kingdom (UK), Russia, Argentina, United States, Israel, Cana, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, India, Australia among ors.

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Germany enters harder COVID-19 lockdown

As Germany reported a record level of deaths due to COVID-19, it also entered a harder lockdown on December 16 with shops and schools shutting down in a bid to flatten drastic spre of vel coronavirus. As per Robert Koch Institute, Germany recorded 179.8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in just last seven days which is significantly greater than 149 per 100,000 reported a week ago.

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Im: AP