EU continues to actively export and donate COVID vaccines

More than two years into the novel coronavirus pandemic, the European Union remains the biggest global provider of COVID-19 vaccines. Since November 2020, some 1.78 billion doses have been exported from the EU to 165 destinations, exceeding the roughly 1.29 billion doses delivered to EU citizens. Japan has remained the top recipient, importing some 249 million doses as of 28 January 2022.

The EU’s COVID-19 vaccines export transparency and authorisation mechanism, introduced in January 2021, expired at the end of 2021 and has been replaced by a new monitoring mechanism. As a result, vaccine producers no longer have to request an authorisation for the export of vaccines outside the EU.

‘Team Europe’, a joint action involving the EU, its Member States and European financial institutions, has committed to share 700 million doses by 2022. Its aim is to ensure that 70% of the world's population is vaccinated by mid-2022. As of early January 2022, Team Europe has shared more than 380 million doses with countries around the world, making the EU the biggest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to date. The Commission and EU countries have also pledged over €3 billion to COVAX, the global initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to vaccines, and are supporting vaccination campaigns in partner countries.

Overall, the EU global response to the COVID-19 pandemic amounts to €46 billion. These funds are helping more than 130 partner countries in such areas as addressing the health emergency, strengthening their health systems and mitigating the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic.

<updated: 1 February 2022>