Prognosis

Germany Defends Pan-Europe Vaccine Strategy Amid Slow Rollout

‘European way is in Germany’s national interest,’ Spahn says
EU needs unity to be able to respond to global threats

Boxes of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines at the Robert Bosch Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany, on Jan. 12.
Photographer: Andreas Gebert/Bloomberg

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By Naomi Kresge and Raymond Colitt

January 13, 2021 at 12:59 PM UTC

Updated on

January 13, 2021 at 1:36 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government defended its decision to rely on the European Union to secure coronavirus vaccines, saying the approach is key for the region to recover and play a larger role in global affairs.

With the U.S. recovering from the trauma of Donald Trump’s presidency and China expanding its influence, Europe needs to be in position to act and a common vaccine strategy is part of ensuring solidarity, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday.