The health ministers of the EU member states discussed the validity of the Covid certificates, but did not debate the introduction of compulsory vaccination, it became clear after the end of their meeting in Brussels, BNR reports.
“We have stated from the outset that decisions on compulsory vaccination are within the competence of member states,” said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kiriakidou.
She said Commission Chairwoman Ursula von der Leyen had only stressed the need for debate on the issue.
Kiriakidou stressed that 1/3 of the EU population has not been vaccinated, saying: “We need to use vaccines urgently to close the immunization gap. We need to vaccinate as many European citizens as possible. We need to protect more people. from the serious consequences of the virus, as well as from the spread of new mutations. The percentage of those vaccinated is still below 55 percent in 6 Member States. Large groups of unvaccinated people in different regions or countries put the whole EU at risk. “
Ministers agreed on a common approach on the duration of the “green certificate”, with the most advocating opinion for 9 months with the inclusion of the boost dose.
EU Commissioner Kiriakidou said that 4 more drugs against Covid-19 are expected to be approved by the end of this year.
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