EU calls for providing booster doses to avoid infection with COVID-19 during the coming winter

Baghdad-INA 

The European Commission intends to urge European Union member states to start now providing booster doses of coronavirus vaccines to their populations to contain a new wave of infections expected in autumn and winter, according to a document seen by Reuters before its official release.

The Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union, stated that "more than 2,300 people still lose their lives in the European Union every week due to Covid disease, while others suffer from the negative health consequences of the disease, including long-term symptoms and mental health problems."

“It is clear from the past two years that the European Union may face a new wave of Covid-19 in the fall and winter,” she said, as returning to schools and the cold weather pushes people to stay indoors, which also helps the spread of seasonal influenza.

The Commission added, "Vaccination is still the most reliable way to avoid acute symptoms, and thus reduce deaths," and called on the 27 European Union countries to organize vaccination campaigns that include modified vaccines to confront the new mutant.

The Commission stressed the need to do this before the "next wave".

On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency approved the booster doses modified by Piontech-Pfizer and Moderna to counter the new mutations.

Commenting on the FDA's decision, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said: "It is essential that priority remains to give the primary vaccine and the first booster dose to all eligible individuals."