European Union Begins Mass Vaccination Program As New Variant Spreads

The European Union has launched a mass vaccination program across its 27 nations, with Slovakia, Hungary, and Germany starting early. The EU has recorded over 16 million COVID-19 infections, but experts believe the numbers are underreported. Each country is receiving limited vaccine doses, with a larger rollout expected soon. The EU is awaiting the European Medicines Agency's decision on the Moderna vaccine, already in use in the US. The urgency for vaccines has increased due to a new, more contagious COVID-19 variant. Producers of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are confident in their efficacy against the new strain, though further studies are needed.

What challenges are mentioned regarding the vaccination rollout in the EU?

What do some EU producers of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines believe about their shots in relation to the new COVID-19 variant?