Coronavirus: EU experiencing largest wave – health commissioner

Europe is experiencing the largest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, said on Wednesday, adding that based on the recent data of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) the epidemiological situation is described as particularly worrisome.
In statements to Cypriot journalists in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament plenary is meeting this week, Kyriakides underlined the need for citizens to be vaccinated against Covid-19, stressing that getting vaccinated is an issue of personal and social responsibility to protect ourselves, those close to us and society in general.

Kyriakides called on parents to vaccinate their children, noting that vaccines for children have been approved by the European Medical Agency. She added that pregnant women need to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their babies, noting that this is the message given by the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, with which she has discussed this issue.

As regards the issue of medicines, Kyriakides said that three medicines have been approved by the EMA and that she expects that two more will be approved this week.

Kyriakides noted that they will proceed with a joint procurement, so that member states will be able to place their orders and have access to the medicines simultaneously. She said that a portfolio with 10 possible therapeutic schemes has been set up.

The commissioner said that currently 90 per cent of the cases concern the Delta variant, adding that at the same time, the Omicron variant is spreading really quickly. She noted that it is expected that the quick spread of the Omicron variant will create a new pressure on the member states` health systems.

Kyriakides said that vaccination is now more important than ever as things are right now, because of the Delta variant and the speedy spread of the Omicron variant.