AMSTERDAM: The Netherlands cannot yet say whether it will be among the first EU countries ready to start with COVID-19 vaccinations in December, several health officials said on Thursday (Dec 17), as the number of infections in the nation hit a new daily high.

EU commission head Ursula von der Leyen said earlier that European Union countries would begin inoculating people against the coronavirus on Dec  27 to Dec 29, assuming the EU regulator approves a vaccine.