Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines
14 Apr Health

Commission announces accelerated delivery of 50m BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the additional doses will be available in the second quarter, starting in April, rather than in the last quarter of this year as originally planned.
by Martin Banks
Time to give animal vaccination a booster
19 Apr Health
Time to give animal vaccination a booster
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
16 Apr Health
Gunnar Beck: von der Leyen should step down over “disastrous” vaccine rollout
Mental health is everybody’s business
13 Apr Health
Mental health is everybody’s business
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
07 Apr Health
EU regulator confirms possible link between blood clots and AstraZeneca vaccine in ‘very rare’ cases
This is the first time that the European Medicines Agency has linked the vaccine to blood clots but says the benefits of the jab outweigh the risks.
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
07 Apr Health
Time to overhaul the patent protection law
While the current health crisis has wreaked havoc in many sectors, in pharmaceuticals it is the EU’s patent law that is hampering innovation and access to medicines, explains Katerina Konecná.
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
02 Apr Health
European Parliament criticised over use of COVID-19 disposable masks
NGO attacks Parliament for promoting use of ‘untraceable, disposable, toxic and unrecyclable’ single-use masks.
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
01 Apr Health
World Health Organization criticises EU’s ‘unacceptably slow’ vaccine rollout
The EU, meanwhile, insists its vaccine policy is the best approach to avoid what it calls “vaccine nationalism.”
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
01 Apr Health
Restoring our pharmaceutical autonomy
When the dust of the Coronavirus crisis settles, we must consider new ways of responding to future threats that ensure Europe’s citizens do not suffer, writes Véronique Trillet-Lenoir.
Issue 533 | 29 March 2021
29 Mar Health
Issue 533 | 29 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Romanian Renew Europe deputy Vlad Gheorghe, who was a just toddler when Romania’s 50-year experiment with Communism came crashing down in December 1989. He explains to editor Brian Johnson how the country’s integration back into the EU fold has been a major factor in shaping his politics and worldview.
Commission goes on offensive in bid to deflect alarm at vaccine programme
24 Mar Health
Commission goes on offensive in bid to deflect alarm at vaccine programme
Speaking to MEPs on Tuesday, Sandra Gallina, the executive’s Director General of health, launched a blistering attack on AstraZeneca, the pharma company at the centre of a huge spat with the EU over vaccine supplies.
EMA chief set to be grilled by MEPs on latest EU bid to boost sluggish vaccination rates
22 Mar Health
EMA chief set to be grilled by MEPs on latest EU bid to boost sluggish vaccination rates
Emer Cooke, the European Medicines Agency executive director, has been invited to an “exchange of views” to update deputies on the state of play of the evaluation and authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines.
EU Member States to resume AstraZeneca COVID vaccinations
19 Mar Health
EU Member States to resume AstraZeneca COVID vaccinations
Move follows European Medicines Agency’s all clear regarding blood clot concerns.
MEPs give guarded welcome to new Commission plans for ‘Digital Green Certificate’
17 Mar Health
MEPs give guarded welcome to new Commission plans for ‘Digital Green Certificate’
The “vaccine passport” will collate details on vaccinations, tests and Coronavirus recovery to let travellers cross borders freely again after a year of severe restrictions.
EMA chief admits public trust in Coronavirus vaccines could erode due to AstraZeneca safety probe
17 Mar Health
EMA chief admits public trust in Coronavirus vaccines could erode due to AstraZeneca safety probe
Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has sought to allay fears concerning the AstraZeneca vaccine, emphasising that the benefits “outweigh any risks.”
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
16 Mar Health
Senior ECDC official tells EU it must move ‘faster, faster, faster’ on vaccine rollout
Bruno Ciancio, chief of the surveillance section at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, was speaking to MEPs on Monday on the new Coronavirus variants.
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
16 Mar Health
Autism Awareness Day: Why we need a European approach to autism
A strategic and integrated European approach to autism spectrum disorder would provide much-needed support to persons on the autism spectrum as well as their families in these challenging times, writes Victor Negrescu.
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
16 Mar Health
Autism Awareness Day: A yawning gap between rhetoric and action
The pandemic has exposed the stigma that people on the autism spectrum still face; it’s time for the EU to ditch the empty words and up its game, writes Jordi Cañas.
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
15 Mar Health
Commission’s ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to help boost travel during the ongoing crisis
The proposed certificate is designed to provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from it, or has received a negative test result.
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
15 Mar Health
MEPs to learn more about new EU attempt to contain variants of Coronavirus
With Member States still firmly in the grip of the pandemic, the Commission is proposing what it calls “immediate action” to prepare Europe for the “increased” threat of Coronavirus variants.
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
15 Mar Health
Issue 532 | 15 March 2021
Gracing this issue’s cover is Spanish Renew Europe deputy Jordi Cañas. With the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement negotiations approaching the finish line, Parliament’s rapporteur tells reporter Ana Gallego why this may be the last chance to seal a deal with the South American trade bloc.
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
12 Mar Health
COVID-19 crisis having ‘huge toll on children, warn MEPs
European parliament’s warning comes as EU authorises use of fourth COVID-19 vaccine.
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
12 Mar Health
Charles Michel at centre of war of words with UK over COVID vaccines
Row follows Council President’s swipe at the UK over its vaccine roll out.
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: Why prevention is better than cure
With an estimated 70 percent of the EU population overweight, obesity is an issue that urgently requires measures promoting public education and consumer information, argues João Ferreira.
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
With one in three European children suffering from overweight or obesity, it was time to implement a programme that introduced a healthy dose of nutrition into their diets, explains Marc Tarabella.
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
05 Mar Health
World Obesity Day: The fightback on childhood obesity
COVID-19 has created unforeseen problems – including undermining our efforts to defeat the scourge of childhood obesity. When we emerge from the grip of the virus, this must be a priority, writes Alex Agius Saliba.
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
04 Mar Health
MEP slams Member States that broke ranks from EU vaccine strategy
The EU has sought to maintain a unified approach to the vaccination procurement process but the painfully slow rollout in recent weeks has led to several Member States deciding to “go it alone.”
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
01 Mar Health
Senior MEP voices concern over role EU regions will play in Coronavirus recovery plan
Markus Ferber, a member of Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, takes aim at Member States over their implementation of the EU’s €750bn economic recovery plan.