I would really like that leend that the EU didn't buy enough vaccines to die. Even before they ordered, after what I would calla media campaign, a couple of hundred million doses more, the EU had more the 4 doses per EU citizen, incl minors, on order.
From all suppliers with potential vaccines in the pipeline. There was no way to tell which vaccine would be ready first. e.g. the Sanofi one, also an mRNA vaccine, will not be ready before 2022 it seems. Sanofi will produce the Pfizer / Biontech (?) one from summer onwards. Just thrwong money at the production doesn't ramp vaccine production over night. Case in point the reduced deliveries from Pfizer due to capacity increases and temporary shutdowns at their Belgian site.
This is not a quantity issue, it is a distribution issue. And distribution is not the EU responsibility. Right now people are, rightly so, frustrated by the way the vaccination campaigns are running, especially in Germany it is a mess.
First culprit: The manufacturers -> the media in germany sided with Biontech and declared higher availability if the EU just ordered. The result: Culprit 2
Second culprit: The EU because it didn't order earlier -> Order volumes were increased, which led to temporary shutdowns of manufacturing sites to increase capacity. The result: The EU said "sorry, we made some mistakes, but now enough is on back order to get everyone an opportuniy till summer. And by the way, vaccination campaigns are the memeber states responsibility". Step in culprit three in Germany
Third culprit:The federal government. A nice one, as vaccination is a state thing over here and not a federal task. Still, allocation and call ups are going through the federal government to the EU and manufacturers. The result: They implemented a task force at the federal level. Still no increase in daily vaccinations in most German states so far.
Likely forth culprit (and now we are getting closer to the truth): The state governments. Why? Because the EU was very straight forward from day one that once the doses have been delivered to the member states its responisbility ends. They also stated the logistics and distribution will be critical. And that part is so clearly lacking, from appointment management to vaccine availability of the already manufactured and delivered doses. Until now, as that point is not yet really discussed publicly, we have no real improvements.
IMHO, things will get better once traditional vaccines will be available en masse. Then we can use well established supply chains for existing vaccines, e.g. the flew and other standard stuff, done by local doctors. I would also suspect, that once htis starts to work, Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna to find ways to allow the sae doctors to use mRNA vaccines safely and reliably.
Until then I am afraid it will be more a blame game than anything else. And this is the real tragedy here.