Covid vaccinations: slow start around world brings dose of reality

Burst of optimism over approvals has been followed by delays, shortages and bureaucratic errors

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The global introduction of newly approved coronavirus vaccines has been marked by delays, shortages and bureaucratic errors as it has become clear that many governments will miss their targets for mass inoculation.

The burst of optimism that arrived with approvals of new vaccines - encouraged by unrealistic expectations raised by politicians - is colliding with the reality of the challenge of vaccinating a large part of the world's population.