Poklukar urges joint guidance on travel within EU

Ljubljana – Health Minister Janez Poklukar called for coordination of measures to form guidance for travel and crossing the borders within the EU, as he addressed a virtual informal meeting of EU health ministers on Thursday. He also urged a fair global distribution of vaccines against Covid-19.

According to a press release issued by the Health Ministry after the meeting, Slovenia’s proposal was for the travel guidance to be formed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Poklukar hailed the decision to bulk buy Covid-19 vaccines and the European Commission’s role in the process, expressing Slovenia’s support for expanding the portfolio of vaccines and suppliers.

A fair distribution of vaccines must be secured globally, beyond the EU’s borders, the minister was quoted as saying.

He outlied the improved coronavirus situation in Slovenia and the phased easing of restrictions with an increase in vaccination rates. He also reported on the new variants of coronavirus identified in the country, including the Indian variant.

Poklukar expressed support for the work of the ECDC and the European Commission, noting the role that early detection and research of new variants have in controlling the pandemic.

Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency, said the agency was continuously monitoring the effectiveness of vaccines against new variants.

Meanwhile, ECDC director Andrea Ammon described the situation at the moment as a transitional period between a pandemic and vaccination.

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