I believe several EU Countries have still not cleared AZ for use on (false?) fears of blood clots. And then there is the problem of distribution - not so easy in a place as large as the EU.
First some countries refused to give the AZ vaccine to people over 65, then they recklessly suspended it altogether, now some countries refuse to give it to people under 55. That's ridiculous.
Distribution is no more a problem than in the UK. The EU has probably the best infrastructure in the world and vast resources, while being smaller than the US.
No vaccination for ages over 65 while there is insufficient data on efficacy in those groups, briefly suspend vaccination with new drug while evaluating reports of unexpected side effects, release of the vaccine to age groups that are least effected by those side effects.
I agree that all three decisions are wrong, but I don't think they're ridiculous. Just overly cautious.
The side effects, which are still not proven afaik, are less likely than dying in a car crash during any given year. The EMA never raised issues or suggested that the vaccine was problematic.
It was indeed ridiculous to suspend the vaccine whatever spin they tried to give that decision. The two other points are equally ridiculous.
What seems to be the case is that some people try to essentially sabotage that vaccine.
