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European Commissioner says 6 member states still below 55 percent vaccination rate

The Xinhua reported that European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides said on Tuesday, mandatory vaccination is to remain the choice of individual member states for now.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the European Union's health ministers, Kyriakides said that any discussion on compulsory vaccination should not shift the focus from the need to continue vaccinating people "as quickly as possible."
"We must urgently use vaccines to close the immunization gap," she said. "We need to get as many EU citizens fully vaccinated as quickly as possible, protect more people against the most serious consequences of the virus as well as the spread of new variants. There are still six member states that have an overall vaccination rate below 55 percent."

However, Kyriakides did not give a clear reply when asked whether the health ministers had discussed compulsory vaccination.
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Kyriakides said: "We have made it clear from the beginning of our work on the European vaccine strategy that vaccination in general, and notably decisions on mandatory vaccination are a matter for the member states."
"Currently 77 percent of (European) adults and 66 percent of the (European) population in general is vaccinated. But this means that one third of the European population is not vaccinated. Vaccination is our best instrument to address this pandemic even though it is not the only one."
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While it is important and appropriate that a discussion should start on mandatory vaccination, Kyriakides added, "I don't believe that this should take our focus away from the need to vaccinate as quickly as possible and the need to have non-pharmaceutical measures in place in order to address this virus."
She emphasized: "Even one member state with a low vaccination rate can have an impact on the health situation throughout the EU. Vaccination is a public health necessity."
The ministers also discussed the Pharmaceutical Strategy, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the next steps on global health and pandemic preparedness.
Source: xinhua
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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