VACCINATION

Europe's 'V-Day' marks launch of vaccinations against Covid-19

Alicja Jakubowska receives the coronavirus vaccine in the central hospital of the Ministry of Interior (Poland). Photo: Grzegorz Banaszak/dpa.

The Nomad Today/dpa

27 de December de 2020 (11:53 h.)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the launch "a touching moment of unity" for the 450 million people living in the EU.

Across Europe, health workers and members of high-risk groups such as care home residents are to receive the continent's first batch of vaccinations against the coronavirus on Sunday.

In what European Union leaders dubbed 'V-Day,' the bloc officially embarks on a mass vaccination programme for its most vulnerable people.

The first vaccine shipments reached countries across the European Union on Saturday, when a few individuals received their jab early.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the launch "a touching moment of unity" for the 450 million people living in the EU's 27 member states.

The EU has approved the vaccine jointly developed by the small German firm BioNTech and US pharma giant Pfizer, which a large-scale clinical trial showed has an efficacy of 95% in preventing Covid-19.

Politicians and health experts warn that it will be months until until vaccines will be widely enough available to provide shots to everyone who wants to be vaccinated.