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JAB GRAB

Germany sparks fury by securing bigger share of Covid vaccines than other EU members as virus ravages continent

GERMANY has infuriated other EU member states after securing more vaccine doses than them.

Brussels ordered around 200million doses of the jab - which should be shared between its members depending on the size of their population.

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EU members are upset at the disproportionate rollout
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EU members are upset at the disproportionate rolloutCredit: AFP or licensors
Some EU member states have not acquired any extra doses - but Germany has racked up millions
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Some EU member states have not acquired any extra doses - but Germany has racked up millionsCredit: AFP or licensors

But Der Spiegel reports Germany is in line to receive a whopping 30million more doses than it is entitled to.

The country is reportedly in line for 50.5million doses of the Moderna vaccine - about 20million more than expected.

They have also acquired the rights to an extra large dose of the Biontech jab, the magazine reports.

The EU ordered 100million extra doses of the Biontech offering following promising trials, with Germany allegedly in line for around 25million - but Poland, Belgium and the Czech Republic will not receive any of the extra vials.

Massimo Galli, heading up the Infectious Diseases Center of the Sacco Hospital in Milan, said the process was "wrong, and not a nice thing to hear about," Politico reports.

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Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim dubbed the tactics "pure vaccine nationalism".

The vaccine-shopping process has also allegedly been wrought by squabbles and bickering - with member states keen to back international ties causing issues in purchasing, Der Spiegel reports.

Critics of the bloc accused Brussels of backing the wrong developers, ending up with too many doses of jabs still in production, and not enough of the ones that are ready to be deployed.

And last summer, some EU countries who were reluctant to invest in the Biontech and Moderna vaccines due to concerns over the tech they used only relented as they "did not want to give Germany a slap in the face," bloc insiders told the magazine.

Meanwhile France resisted altogether, instead buying up 300million doses of the French-made Sanofi vaccine.

But they were left red-faced after the jab's production was delayed by a series of mishaps.

German government insiders said the French had "put the brakes" on Biontech in order to plug their home-made version.

However, Clément Beaune, the French Europe minister, blasted the claims as “simply false”.

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