Eu may have 'relied a little bit too much on the free markets' for vaccines, top scientist says

The United States and the United Kingdom are outpacing the European Union when it comes to vaccinating citizens against COVID-19. The main reason why that's the case, _The New York

Times_ reports, appears to go all the way back to last year. Early on, the U.S. and U.K. governments threw a lot more money at, and were much more involved in, vaccine development than the

EU, which "shopped for vaccines like a customer," the _Times_ writes. Brussels "assumed that simply contracting to acquire doses would be enough," Dr. Moncef Slaoui, who

was hired by former President Donald Trump to oversee Operation Warp Speed's vaccine development, told the _Times__._ "In fact," he added, "what was very important was to

be a full, active partner in the development and manufacturing of the vaccine. And to do so very early." Dr. Steven Van Gucht, the Belgium government's top virologist, seemed to

agree, telling the _Times_ he thinks European leaders "relied a little bit too much on the free markets. What you really need to do from the beginning is really make sure you produce

the vaccines on your territory and that they're destined for your own population." SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from

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directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. There is good news, though. The EU

purchased enough doses to fully vaccinate its population three times over, and supply is expected to increase steadily in the next few weeks, leaving EU officials confident the bloc can hit

the 70 percent vaccinated threshold by this summer. Read more at _The New York Times_. Explore More Speed Reads