European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EPA
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EPA
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EPA
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. EPA

EU's von der Leyen tells worried Europeans: 'I'd take AstraZeneca vaccine'


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

The EU's most senior administrator said she would happily take AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine, as officials tried to find ways of ensuring doses refused by Germans were not wasted.

The comments by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, came amid growing concerns that unfavourable comments by top European officials including French President Emmanuel Macron had slowed the acceptance of one of three vaccines approved EU-wide.

This month, Mr Macron said Britain had taken a risk in authorising AstraZeneca's vaccine so quickly.

A German official study also found evidence that, although effective, the vaccine has more severe side effects than its two main rivals.

"I would take the AstraZeneca vaccine without a second thought, just like Moderna's and BioNTech-Pfizer's products," Ms von der Leyen told the Augsburger Allgemeine.

The endorsement came a month after the European Commission and AstraZeneca were at odds over suggestions that the British-Swedish company had given priority to Britain over the EU in delivering the vaccine.

AstraZeneca denied the claims.

The Commission has been criticised over the slow pace of vaccination across the 27-member bloc,.

Critics say it failed to secure enough early supply of the vaccines that leaders are banking on to bring an end to the pandemic, which has devastated the continent's economy.

In Germany, where a widespread preference for the German-designed BioNTech vaccine has led to a growing number of unused AstraZeneca doses, officials and politicians suggested ways of making sure they did not go to waste.

Berlin's Social Affairs Senator Elke Breitenbach said unused doses should be given to the 3,000 homeless people living in the city's emergency accommodation.

"We shouldn't forget those who don't have a loud lobby behind them," Ms Breitenbach told Funke Media Group.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer earlier said unused vaccines should go to the police.

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

TOURNAMENT INFO

Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5

8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers

Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends

Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.

TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')

Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)

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THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind