Five European Union countries seek talks over vaccine distribution ‘disparities’

The leaders of five European nations are calling for talks among European Union leaders over what they called “huge disparities” in coronavirus vaccine distribution across the 27-nation bloc. 

Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian chancellor, said on Friday that the distribution of jabs was not going to plan, with some countries receiving more doses than others. 

Austrian media reported that the leaders of Austria, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Bulgaria had written a joint letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel.

The letter reportedly stated: “if this system were to carry on, it would continue creating and exacerbating huge disparities among Member States by this summer”.

Vaccines were meant to be distributed to countries on a per-capita basis, but some countries received more than others, it is claimed. 

Officials elsewhere have noted that countries have wanted differing amounts of various vaccines and have not always taken up their full allocation.

Austria’s health ministry – which is run by Mr Kurz’s junior coalition partner – was among those rejecting Mr Kurz’s criticism.

Oe1 radio reported that its general secretary, Ines Stilling, said negotiations on distributing the vaccines had been “balanced and transparent”.

Additional reporting by Associated Press