The EU are on a collision course with the UK over vaccines.

Alegrias1

Just popping up here to lend some support for Mamie and remind some others that gloating isn't a good look.

Alegrias I wasn’t gloating, simply stating a fact. Mamie has put up a passionate defence of France and I see no reason at all why simple facts should not be mentioned. If it’s okay for a poster to passionately defend the place where they are living, then it’s okay for other posters to at the very least mention a fact about where they live.
As I have said before, we’re not all safe, until we’re all safe. Let’s hope France and other European countries make good progress with their vaccination programmes, and let’s accept and understand how lucky those of us living in the UK are to have been offered vaccination so quickly. But let’s also not defend the tawdry performance of some countries, including unfortunately, France.

I have not seen any evidence whatsoever of posters gloating.
We are all aware that the dreadful situation in Europe could well impact on us.
We have been repeatedly told that the longer the virus is able to circulate in high numbers (which of course is happening in Europe) the higher the potential for mutations to develop, some of which could make our vaccines less effective.

Like everyone I am hugely relieved that we made the right decision in going it alone with our vaccine procurement, but at the same time I am well aware that the longer the abysmal situation continues in our neighbouring countries, the more it could impact on us.

the longer the abysmal situation continues in our neighbouring countries, the more it could impact on us.

Just as the Kent variant is now tearing its way through Europe. Locking down earlier in the U.K. may have prevented this mutation.

None of the politicians come out of this smelling of roses.

I was interested in what the virus rates were in Europe and came across this site.

I'm thinking this is a non-biased site

I was very surprised to see how many active infections France appears to have. That could mean that they are testing many more than anywhere else, but even so , massive difference from most EU countries

www.statista.com/page/covid-19-coronavirus

I agree JenniferEccles, there is such emotive language and hostility on GN today when there should be a sense of relief and positivity in the UK at least. We want that feeling for everyone in Europe and beyond.
It's au soleil pour moi and a meet up in DD's garden.

maddyone The answer to that is shortage of vaccines. Too slow on the procurement process, too trusting that everyone else would try to do the right thing, exporting 44% of vaccines made in EU countries and Astra Zeneca delivering only 25% of vaccines that it had promised, are a few. It has been too slow, but it has speeded up now. France, last week, was doing a million every 72 hours.
Yes we are behind the UK, but you know what? We will catch up.
To be honest some of this reminds me of the competitive parenting in the school playground. It really isn't all about first past the post.
Where are your friends GrannyGravy? If they are in France they need to look at DoctoLib or Santé.fr The roll-out is very clear. DH had his with the over 70s with long-term conditions, a few weeks ago. My group of 70-75 without health conditions has just started.

What I actually try to do is counter some of the things that are said on here, based on facts and first-hand experience. I watch the politicians speak live and I see how their words get distorted, I read the French press as well as the UK press and I see the difference in reporting of the facts. I teach U3A classes and I hear what French people of our generation have to say.
France like many European countries has got things wrong during the pandemic. What I can say is that I have felt safe, protected and clear about what I can and cannot do throughout. The length of time for my group to get to vaccination has been frustrating, but I have always known exactly where I stand.

Yes we are behind the UK, but you know what? We will catch up.
Yes, Mamie, it could well be a case of la tortue et le lièvre!

I'm looking forward to as many people in the whole world being vaccinated

Sounds lovely Ellianne
The ☀️ has come out here now (Berkshire)
We are seeing our daughter and family over Easter, the first time for months as she is a one and a half hours drive away.

I’ve been wondering what went wrong in Germany. Angela has explained that it’s because of their tendency for perfection
That’s ok then.

BREAKING NEWS:

British pharmaceuticals giant to 'fill and finish' Novavax Covid vaccines amid threat of jabs trade war

Sixty million doses will be finished at GlaxoSmithKline's Barnard Castle factory in the North East to avoid transportation to Europe.

It is good news Urmstongran just a shame that the threat of a vaccine war was ever made.

MerylStreep

I’ve been wondering what went wrong in Germany. Angela has explained that it’s because of their tendency for perfection
That’s ok then.

The UK jumped the gun on the safety checks - we took a risk, balancing the risk of side effects against more deaths from virus. Obviously I’ve decision was right because now the serious Covid rate has come right down, whereas in Europe the Covid rate has gone up, still vaccine distribution in the EU is being delayed by red tape, also suspending vaccination in many countries made the population cautious

I hardly think the UK was sloppy or careless in comparison.

Not sure any Biotechnology companies want to do business inside the EU anymore.

The rule of law and IP protection are important to international companies.

Great that Brexit means the UK , is open for business.

I have to say it. Our Government is playing an absolute blinder at the moment.

Yes Urmstongran I'm so pleased the UK is proving to be a good bet for future businesses. Not gloating at all, just happy for my granchdchildren's prospects after fearing the worst with Brexit.

Ellianne

I hardly think the UK was sloppy or careless in comparison.

I agree Ellianne. The UK was not sloppy and took no risks with the safety of the vaccine. This emphasised at the time.

Katie59
What was it that Macron said we lacked the ambition - and the madness
Wrong!! He lacked the balls. Yes, we took a chance but it paid off mainly because Boris said ‘cut the red tape, just bloody do it’ and our wonderful brilliant scientists did.???? ???

We sure are nimble. I’m so happy to hear this news! Good for the NE area. Some of that ‘levelling up’.

It took the EU much longer to agree deals with Sanofi and Novartis to bottle the Pfizer vaccine and those plants aren't going to be operational until July. Reading between the lines, we signed this agreement in about 7-10 days and it's going to be operational in just over a month...

I live in France too Mamie and it has been very difficult trying to get an appointment for vaccination. I managed to get one for my husband who has cancer, a round trip of over an hour to get to the clinic. I am 74 and have an appt next month.
There have been open clinics where you could just turn up and be vaccinated but not for our age group.
In small rural villages like ours people have been arriving from Paris and other large cities despite confinement.

I do have to say the French health services in our area have continued to function and treat people who need it for things other than Covid.

The EU has proved too unwieldy to deal with a crisis like this, I'm hoping "lessons will be learned".

Sorry to hear that sodapop it must be very stressful for you and your husband (and many others I expect) right now. I hope the situation improves for you soon. My friend in Spain still hasn’t heard about a jab and she is 85y and a very anxious lady at the best of times.

On a more positive note - Boris has discussed sharing Covid-19 vaccines with Ireland with Northern Ireland’s First Minister, it has emerged, as she described the proposals as a “runner”.

Arlene Foster said she was “hopeful” that the UK would begin sharing jabs with the Republic once it began to build up a surplus of doses, confirming that she had raised the idea during their recent discussions.

This I think will be good on the island of Ireland. Makes great sense I think.

Urmstongran our dear family friend is getting his (Fuengirola) tomorrow he is 81. His wife is 79 no idea when she will get hers. They both have had Spanish citizenship.

Katie59 The UK jumped the gun on the safety checks - we took a risk, balancing the risk of side effects against more deaths from virus.

The UK did not jump the gun on the safety checks, it analysed the trial data and gave approval, the exact same data that the rest of Europe had and used to give approval, and to say otherwise is a gross slur on our scientists.

That’s great news GG13 I will tell my friend when we speak in the week. She too has Spanish citizenship for years.

Thank you for sharing.