BRUSSELS – The Belgian government yesterday said it intends to make any coronavirus vaccine available to around 70% of the population, or some eight million people, and free of charge.
The jab will not be compulsory, said Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke as he and regional counterparts attended an inter-ministerial health conference.
“The objective is to vaccinate at least 70% of the population. Priority groups will be determined on the basis of scientific opinion and social debate.
“Vaccination will be free for every citizen” receiving it.
Belgium, with a population of 11.5 million, has registered almost 540,000 Covid-19 cases and more than 14,000 deaths to date. Its death rate per million residents is one of the worst in Europe.
As a European Union member state, Belgium is engaged in bloc-wide procedures for the bulk purchases of Covid-19 vaccines once they emerge in the coming months.
Earlier yesterday, Brussels indicated that it is signing a contract with German pharmaceutical company CureVac for another potential vaccine, bringing to five the number of vaccines in the bloc’s portfolio, and a sixth on the way from US firm Moderna.
The country has so far signed up to receive 7.7 million doses from AstraZeneca (administered in two doses) and a further 5.5 million from Johnson & Johnson, reported national news agency Belga.
The distribution of any vaccine in EU states will only go ahead once it is seen as safe and effective, and that requires the green light from regulator the European Medicines Agency.
Brussels expects the first vaccines to come on stream from early next year. – AFP, November 17, 2020
