The European Union (EU) was predicted to lose 100 billion euros due to the slow pace of vaccination of the population against coronavirus. Bloomberg reports.
According to the agency, the “sluggish” pace of vaccinations in Europe is causing concern for investors, as it may delay the recovery of the EU economy and the resumption of business. At the same time, a delay in the resumption of work for one or two months could cost the EU economy from 50 to 100 billion euros.
It is noted that European funds have been recording capital outflows for the third week in a row, and the continuing increase in the incidence of coronavirus may disrupt the current strategies of investors. Sima Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors, said vaccinations in Europe are being hampered by bureaucracy and conflicting government statements. The publication also named interruptions in supplies and resistance in society among the reasons.
At the end of February it became known that AstraZeneca in the second quarter of 2021 will supply fewer doses of the vaccine than it was planned under the contract – about 90 million instead of 180 million doses. Due to technical issues, companies are two months behind production schedules.
Earlier in March, the US Senate approved a package of measures to stimulate the American economy. The total cost of US President Joe Biden’s plan to rescue the country’s economy could exceed $ 1.9 trillion. Of this, $ 415 billion will go to support the fight against coronavirus, about $ 1 trillion in direct payments to households, and approximately $ 440 billion in payments to small businesses and communities.