International

70 percent of adults vaccinated with one dose, EU says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday that 70 percent of adults in the European Union have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

“Our target was to protect 70 percent of adults in the European Union with at least one vaccination in July,” Von der Leyen said in a statement.

“Today we have achieved this target. And 57 percent of adults already have the full protection of double vaccination,” she added.

The accomplishment comes after von der Leyen announced earlier in July that enough vaccine doses had been delivered to the EU to allow 70 percent of adults to be fully vaccinated. 

Countries in the European Union and around the world have been getting hit with the delta variant of the coronavirus, causing some countries to mandate vaccines for some.

France has been facing growing protests after health care workers were mandated to get the vaccine and COVID-19 passes were mandated for citizens to go to restaurants. 

Greece has also seen protests as vaccinations were required for health care workers.

Von der Leyen said the vaccination numbers are good, but the EU needs to keep pushing the vaccine as the delta variant hits the region.

“The delta variant is very dangerous. I therefore call on everyone who has the opportunity to be vaccinated. For their own health and to protect others,” she said.