EU Reverses Move To Restrict Export Of COVID-19 Vaccines To Northern Ireland

The European Union reversed a brief decision to try to restrict the export of COVID-19 vaccines across the border from Ireland into Northern Ireland.

European vaccination campaigns have been struggling as supplies of vaccines on the continent have run low. The decision to invoke an emergency protocol of the Brexit deal was seen as an effort to keep supplies from going from the EU to Britain.

But within hours of the decision, which could have put checks on the border between the EU member the Republic of Ireland and British-controlled Northern Ireland, Irish and British officials condemned the move.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had "grave concerns" while Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster called it "an incredible act of hostility."