Annexes to COM(2020)786 - Staying safe from COVID-19 during winter - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2020)786 - Staying safe from COVID-19 during winter. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2020)786  |
| date | December 2, 2020 |
The Commission has also set out the need for the access to safe and effective vaccines across Europe, to be matched by a coordinated approach of vaccination strategies for deployment of the vaccines. Member States should ensure that the transport services and logistics needed for the safe delivery of the vaccines are planned accordingly. In case of need, the Commission stands ready to support Member States in the deployment of vaccines via the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and other relevant schemes. On 15 October 34 , the Commission presented key elements to be taken into consideration by Member States for their COVID-19 vaccination strategies to ensure orderly and timely deployment, related to required capacities of vaccination services, easy, affordable and preferably free of charge access for the population, transport and storage capacities, and communication to citizens on the benefits, risks and importance of COVID-19 vaccines. As the overall number of vaccine doses will be limited during the initial stages of deployment and before production can be ramped up, the Communication also provides examples of priority groups to be targeted by vaccination first.
Member States have shared knowledge and experiences, and reported on the development of national vaccination strategies, including the definition of population groups and communities that will be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination. Priority target groups defined by reporting Member States include older persons, healthcare workers, workers of essential public services other than health, transport personnel, persons with chronic diseases, persons with disabilities and social care workers. The large majority of Member States that have reported on the current state of play of their vaccination strategies are planning to offer COVID-19 vaccination free of charge, and some will be using vaccination centres across their country to ensure that they will reach populations in rural areas or groups who have difficulties in accessing vaccination services or centres.
Many European countries are currently revising their vaccination infrastructures, in particular to ensure additional cold chain capacity, and are reinforcing existing vaccination services by recruiting and training additional healthcare staff. Concerning the medical and personal protective equipment needed for vaccination services, most reporting Member States plan to use current reserves, but many countries also plan to stockpile items via national or EU joint procurement procedures, in particular concerning items specifically required for COVID-19 vaccination. In case national capacities are overwhelmed, Member States could request assistance via the Union Civil Protection Mechanism via both the EU Civil Protection Pool and the rescEU stockpile of emergency medical equipment. Together with this Communication, the ECDC has published its “Overview of current EU/EEA and UK deployment and vaccination plans for COVID-19 vaccines”. Based on this document, discussions in the Health Security Committee and ECDC surveys, the Commission will consider the need for further guidance on national vaccination plans for COVID-19.
Once COVID-19 vaccines will become available, and it will then be known which vaccines with which specific characteristics and requirements will enter the market, the Commission will publish specific recommendations on how such vaccines are best to be used and deployed. In parallel, the Commission and the EEAS will continue to engage with the WHO and international partners to support a global access and deployment roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as to lead the global response in support of partner countries and exchange best practice in measures to control and bring an end to the pandemic.
Vaccination registries, paper based or in the form of Immunization Information Systems (IIS) are in place in most countries, or are in the process of being updated, and will be key to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination data can be processed. These are an important tool for vaccination programmes. They hold data both at the personal and population levels, and are a valuable resource for individuals and the community. Individuals are empowered to make informed decisions on vaccination, while improving the ability to detect patterns of vaccination in the community leads to better targeted vaccination programmes and consequently better public health.
All reporting Member States are actively looking into communication around COVID-19 vaccination, and many are preparing dedicated communication plans. The Commission will work closely with Member States to support their communication efforts towards citizens on COVID-19 vaccines so that citizens can make informed decisions.
With vaccines now around the corner, there are international efforts to take forward the development of electronic vaccination information systems and vaccination certificates, including in digital forms in order to ensure the close monitoring of vaccination and surveillance of adverse effects and provide citizens trusted tools to display vaccination status. A common approach to trusted, reliable and verifiable vaccination certificates across the EU, would reinforce the public health response in Member States and the trust of citizens in the vaccination effort.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR MEMBER STATES
·Further development of COVID-19 vaccination strategies, taking into consideration the elements highlighted in the Commission Communication of 15 October 2020 and ECDC advice.
·Reporting of Member States to the ECDC on their COVID-19 vaccination strategies, and sharing their knowledge and experiences, also in the context of fora such as the Health Security Committee and the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups collaboration (NITAG).
·Member States should coordinate efforts in tackling the misinformation and disinformation around a possible COVID-19 vaccine, in coordination and collaboration with international bodies and online platforms. The Commission will facilitate these efforts.
8.A different end of the year
Europe has made considerable advances in understanding how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the course of 2020. Promising vaccines might bring an end to the pandemic. But the reality is that the EU still faces several difficult months ahead before large-scale deployment of vaccines permit a significant improvement in the lives of citizens. In the meantime, the relaxation of measures must be gradual. A rushed de-escalation of protective measures should be avoided, or it will lead to stronger and more restrictive control measures after the end-of-year festivities and over a longer period of time. The support and buy-in of citizens will be decisive in overcoming this difficult period. Support for those whose mental health has been negatively impacted by the pandemic is a crucial element in helping EU citizens collectively endure restrictions on their daily lives for a while longer. Similarly, supporting those businesses and employees enduring hardship due to the necessary restrictions is essential.
Proportionality of introduced measures and clear communication as to the measures imposed, and the rationale behind them, will be of the greatest importance in the coming months. Lack of consistency across Member States has been a major source of confusion for many EU citizens during this period. For this reason, it is important that Member States continue coordinate their approaches with the European Commission and to keep each other clearly informed about the measures they are taking, and the decision-making framework within which they are operating.
Cooperation and coordination at EU level remain essential to design and implement a coherent evidence-based control framework to overcome the pandemic in a sustained and effective way. The EU Strategy for COVID-19 vaccines, which led to the EU advance purchase agreements on vaccines, shows that joint efforts bring better results. It should serve as a model for a structured common approach to responding to COVID-19.
With these measures the EU will continue its efforts to overcome the pandemic. It will be a different kind of end of the year. One with restrictions, masks and social distance. However, it will be an occasion to rest and gather strength for the continued challenge posed by the pandemic. Everyone’s efforts count.
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