European Council President Charles Michel has rejected charges of “vaccine nationalism” levelled against the EU, saying that while Britain and the United States have outright bans on exports of Covid-19 shots, the EU had not stopped exporting.

The EU has found itself under fire at home for a vaccine roll-out much slower than those of former member Britain or the United States, and abroad for so far doing less than China, Russia or India to supply vaccines to poor countries.

Last week it annoyed vaccine buyers abroad by endorsing an Italian decision to halt a shipment to Australia, according to Reuters.

Britain had a quick retort for the comments by Michel, who represents the 27 European Union member states, saying it has not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine.