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 The EU drugs regulator said earlier this week it would be reasonable
to give a fourth dose to people with severely weakened immune
systems, but more evidence was needed.
Ministers will discuss "the administration of the fourth dose," said
a press release issued by the French presidency of the EU, which
organised the video-conference for health ministers at short notice.
EU members Hungary and Denmark have already decided to roll out a
fourth dose of COVID vaccines. Copenhagen said it would do so for
the most vulnerable, while the Hungarian government said everybody
could get it after a consultation with a doctor.
The rollout of fourth doses began in Israel last month, making it
the first country to administer the so-called second booster.
Wealthier nations decided to speed up the rollout of third doses
amid a wave of new cases caused by the more contagious Omicron
variant, but remain divided over a fourth one.
Many consider that more data is needed before making decisions on
that.
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 The French presidency said the
video conference was meant to find a common
approach at an EU level on vaccination
strategies. The meeting will
also discuss coordination of other COVID policies, including for
possible new joint purchases of vaccines, as "vaccines adapted to
variants are coming soon," the French presidency said.
Vaccines adapted to Omicron could be ready as early as March, but
the EU drugs regulator has said it is not yet clear whether they are
needed.
Work is underway to develop multivalent vaccines that could protect
against multiple variants, but it is not known when or if they could
be available.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Editing by Mark
Potter)
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