With an vaccination, EMA remains at full throttle. ‘We are very focussed on helping to scale up vaccine production around EU approach, we were able to deliver of supporting innovation that leads to access. We can make better use of digital and telematics tools and AI, the world. We’re helping to authorise additional manufacturing, and we’re involving regulators from outside the clear benefits for patients not just for the generation of evidence, but in administrative procedures. And finally, we should work on improving the EU in our scientific discussions so they can interfaces between different parts of the have knowledge and confidence around the healthcare system, so that we can move away processes. We, as part of the EU, are supporting COVAX from the silo-ed approach, where the regulator is in one [a worldwide initiative for equitable access to vaccine] and silo and health policy in another.’ the EU has exported 300 million doses to over 90 countries – which makes us one of the leading regions globally in exporting vaccines.’ With all the heartbreak of the pandemic and the huge challenges that remain, she believes that the global response has been remarkable: ‘Here we are, 18 months Faced with the tide of misinformation on vaccines spreading after a pandemic was declared, the biggest health crisis in across social media, she is firm but realistic. ‘We need to living memory, and we have four vaccines authorised, and understand the dynamics behind misinformation taking more than 500 million doses distributed right across the hold across different groups - it’s not just a question of regions of the EU. I think all concerned, from laboratory one narrative. We need to work with different partners researchers to regulators, have been exceptional, including and be linked into the right systems to help get the right of course the frontline workers, and that includes messages out to different communities. Through our public community pharmacists. From the start, pharmacists were meetings, we’ve done a lot of listening and we need to making home deliveries, including to nursing homes, to continue with this. We need to be transparent, to reach out ensure that people who couldn’t come to them were getting and communicate fairly. I want us to be the authoritative what they needed. And it went beyond healthcare industries source for vaccine information, but it’s not going to happen – I have a friend, an air hostess, who got furloughed in March overnight. We have to keep seeing what works - does the and immediately began providing food and serving drinks public think they can turn to us, and if not, why not, and to frontline workers.’ how can we change that?’ ‘So, yes, I think history will say we acted quickly and Her priority now is ‘to build on what we’ve learnt this past effectively. But we have to make sure that we can be even 18 months, and not only to prepare for future pandemics. quicker next time. And I think we will be. There are a lot of We’ve learnt a huge amount about combatting inequities lessons learnt and we’re taking that learning forward.’ – even within the EU, there are inequities of access between states. And we’ve learnt about the importance Bridget Hourican is a journalist, historian and writer.
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