The company said in a statement that it had a constructive conversation with EU about scaling up production.

AstraZeneca had sparked anger by saying it would deliver 60% fewer doses of the vaccine than promised in the first quarter of this year.

Now, roll out of the vaccine has been slower than expected across the European Union and here in Germany, frustration is growing.

Yeah, accessing this vaccination center in Brandenburg, in eastern Germany, is harder than it might look To get a appointment for a covert 19 jab, you need staying power.

Only those determined enough to get past the overloaded hotline will get a appointment like Manfred in Hurtigruten Bag.

Both are over 18 belonged to Germany's number one high risk group.

Our daughter got the appointment for us, but it took her a long time to get through and arrange the time.

As in other vaccination centers in Germany, things are moving slowly.

Many booths remain empty because there's not enough vaccine.

Only 70 people a day can be immunized instead of the plant.

600.

Yeah, the situation is even worse in other regions.

This center in Cologne is not even open.

Appointments are being made for February, but it's not an easy process.

You sure?

I'm not just calling them to be kept on hold for hours and then you don't even get an appointment.

My appointment was made online by my son, right on the first day in the morning, the hotline in North Greivis failure is overwhelmed.

Other countries are moving faster.

Israel, for example, is already vaccinated almost half its population about four million people.

Britain has immunized 10%.

The U.

S seven.

Germany has vaccinated around two million people, 2% of the population in line with many other countries.

Germany's Social Democrats say that's not good enough.

Israel, Britain and the US are all making progress, but there are a lot of problems in the European Union on we need to address them quickly.

Vaccine manufacturers contracted to supply EU member states are now reporting production delays, not good news for this facility in Brandenburg or others around Germany.

Filling these chairs is likely to take some time.

Yeah, let's get more on the story with our political correspondent, Thomas Sparrow.

Hi Thomas.

As we saw there, Germany is lagging behind other countries when it comes to vaccinating.

Is it clear at this point why that is?

There are certain elements to me that can help explain why that is.

But first, you obviously have to understand how the process works, because it's a very complex process altogether.

It's sometimes forgotten that the procurement of the vaccine does not happen at a local or national level.

It is actually coordinated by the European Commission, then distributed to each European Union member country, depending on the number off inhabitants and then each country.

So in this case, Germany distributes than the vaccine to the different states, and the different states are then in charge off carrying out the process of making the appointments, as we saw, for example, the report on in all of those stages.

Throughout the process, there has been problems.

If you look specifically at what has happened here in Germany, they have bean logistical problems.

There have been individual oversights as well.

Some of the states have complained that the distribution is too slow, that they're not getting enough vaccines.

But this obviously something that also has to do with the fact that at a European level there is this vaccine shortage.

So there are different ways to understand this problem.

But it is clear that it's not only a sign of hope, as it was presented by the German government as it was presented by German officials.

It's also definitely becoming a big headache for German officials and one that they want to make sure that they resolved soon.

What about another headache?

This between the European Union and AstraZeneca?

How is that affecting Germany?

It is certainly a big headache, but again, it's important to understand this from a broader perspective is not something that only affect Germany because the procurement is being done in the European Union level.

That means that the discussions are not being carried out by one member country with the pharmaceutical company, but by the European Commission with the respective pharmaceutical company.

The problem is that the European Union had put a lot of hope when it comes to the AstraZeneca vaccine on the member countries, obviously as well, because it has been reported that the vaccine is cheaper, that it's easier to store.

So basically they were hoping that this vaccine alongside the others that have already been approved could actually help to reduce that shortage that is being discussed all across the continent and here in Germany.

What are authorities doing to improve the situation?

The Social Democrats, for example, we saw that in our report are calling for a clearer plan.

They're calling for better communication, for example, between federal and state authorities on this is something that may well be discussed in the next few days.

The Social Democrats called, for example, for a so called vaccination summit.

And in fact, we just heard now from the health minister, German Health Minister Jens Spahn, that they may well be this vaccination summit because Germany, according to him, still has around 10 more weeks off vaccination shortage.

So there is clearly a lot of pressure for authorities to try and find out a what the problem is on B.

How they can tackle this problem appropriately.

Our political correspondent Thomas Barrow, Thank you for bringing us up to date Now.

Another country suffering because of a shortage of vaccine in Europe is Serbia, the country's president recently compared the situation to the sinking of the Titanic as rich nations tried to save themselves at the expense of poor ones.

Even so, Serbia has managed to launch a mass vaccination drive for its people.

But it has done so, not with the help of the U but with the help of China.

Mhm Even during the pandemic, customers still come in for their coffee boy and Georgia Vich has run this cafe in Belgrade for three years.

A topic often discussed by patrons.

Is which vaccine is the best US company.

Pfizer and Russia have so far only delivered a few 1000 doses.

China has already sent a million.

Would I choose to get the Chinese vaccine?

Chinese people have been getting it.

They wouldn't be harming their own people.

Maybe I'll take fighters vaccine.

They are an economically strong company.

It's a bit of a dilemma for May, to me, a dilemma.

Serbia's government has promised to buy various vaccines from providers all over the world.

It's then up to citizens to decide which one they want to get.

Get the Chinese or Russian vaccine, not the fighter one e.

I had to choose.

I'd take the Russian one, a Russian one.

I like Russia.

I have Russian friends.

I trust them who to trust.

There's a lack of detailed information about the various vaccines.

That's why many Serbian doctors are hesitant with their advice.

E get a least 10 calls a day, people asking whether they should get vaccinated and, if so, using which vaccine way only have information on the fires.

A vaccine e just don't know enough about the other ones.

E No one seems sure, but plenty of people are driven by their fear of getting sick.

Older citizens could receive the vaccine at a total of 200 special sites, like at this exhibition center in Belgrade.

Serbia purchased eight million vaccines from Western supplies from Russia and China, but only China can deliver millions of doses of Kobe 19 vaccines in a short period of time.

So China's reputation on the Balkan it's on the rice in the meantime, by in Georgia vich has made his decision.

No.

Many of my customers who come here no more than I do about vaccines s.

So now I have decided to get the Chinese one.

Like many Serbians, they take the pragmatic view that the best vaccine is the most available one, and here China seems to have won the race.

The fight.

Here's a look Now some other developments in the pandemic.

Portugal will suspend all flights to and from Brazil beginning Friday.

That's due to the new strain of the coronavirus circulating there.

Vietnam has reported its first community transmission off the virus in almost eight weeks.

The country has that strict quarantine measures throughout the pandemic, and the kind of film festival has been moved from May to July in the hopes of being able to hold the event on the French Riviera in person.