Half of EU vaccinated against COVID-19

The highly contagious Delta variant has been driving surging infections across the world, even in places which had long touted their successes in overcoming the worst of the pandemic.

Hit hard by earlier waves of the pandemic, the European Union has now fully vaccinated more than 50% of its population.

Nearly 224 million people across the 27 member states have been covered, with Spain leading the pack of larger EU countries with 58.3% of its population fully vaccinated, followed by Italy with 54.4%, France with 52.9% and Germany with 52.2%, according to reports.

The EU has now passed the vaccination rate of the United States — which remains on 49.7%— as that country suffers a new wave driven by the Delta variant that has sent hospitalisations soaring to levels not seen since last summer. The EU has given first shots to 59.3% of its population,while the US is just behind at 57.8% in the latest figures released on Monday.

The tiny island nation of Malta tops the EU league with three quarters of its people fully vaccinated followed by Belgium at 58.9%.

Bottom of the European class are Balkan neighbours Bulgaria (14.5%) and Romania which has covered a quarter of its people.

– GULF NEWS