Astrazeneca vaccine suspended..... Not proven to be linked to the jab yet, but investigations are ongoing *title edited by GNHQ*

My husband was a French teacher. We holidayed in France many times. We like France. But it would be hard to conclude that the President of France, Monsieur Macron has anything but contempt for Britain.

Alegrias1

I'm Scottish. We've always quite liked the French. Auld Alliance and all that.

Yes, I'm rambling a bit. Nothing more surreal than half the other posts on this thread though.

I'm half Welsh Alegrias, my Celtic roots are probably what drew me to want to marry a Breton. But then of course, the Bretons will tell you all about their squabbles with the French!

The suggestions are that somewhere between 7 and 14 million doses are stashed in fridges in Europe not being used because the Europeans have been scared witless about their safety.
Yes, I think Van-Tam made a cutting comment that the vaccines were useless unless they were in people's arms. He must be feeling frustrated.

He must indeed Ellianne. The whole situation is frustrating.

"I'm Scottish. We've always quite liked the French. Auld Alliance and all that."
Strange how the "Auld Alliance" generally seemed to work to the advantage of the French, rather than to that of the Scots. It didn't really do much for James IV and the rest of the 'flowers of the forest' in 1513, did it?

Touché Bodach. I've just had a very quick read up on that.

It was that kind of relationship. We didn't expect much back. Just making the English nervous was reward enough.

Just lost all respect for you Alegrias.

20:17 yesterday Witzend

Yes Witzend it make you wonder doesn't it, lots of money to be made selling vaccines to the world but not if your competitors are selling at cost price and under cutting you. I think this is one of the reasons for trying to discredit the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine. I also think Macron and Merkel (the two top dogs in the EU) are jealous and resentful of us in the UK for our fantastic rollout of the vaccine (trying to draw attention from their failures) and hopefully opening up the UK in June (Business as normal) and the fact that we dared to leave the corrupt EU and are actually making a success of it.

Dear God. Implying people shouldn't post because they dont live in Britain. Can we all do that can I decide I dont want to hear from people in Norfolk for example.

Galaxy

Dear God. Implying people shouldn't post because they dont live in Britain. Can we all do that can I decide I dont want to hear from people in Norfolk for example.

As for the Scots ( unless they’re Unionists of course) . In fact come to think of it, the only posters allowed should be .......

I love Norfolk by the way

LauraNorder

Just lost all respect for you Alegrias.

How do you feel about people who tell "foreigners" they shouldn't be posting?

Or those who can dish it out but not take it?

By the way, one of the purposes of the Auld Alliance, dating from the 13th century, was to protect Scotland against English incursion. So making them nervous was a way of preventing us being invaded.

Macron is not suited to the position he holds. Unfortunately his thoughts and actions are self serving with no thought for the people of France. There has not been as big an outcry as there should be about this here as the anti vaccination lobby is strong.

I'm a mix of English, Irish and Italian, married to a man who is of English, Irish, Welsh and Belgian heritage. We've been having some interesting conversations with our relatives in Belgium and Italy over the past few weeks.
The mixed messages coming from the various governments regarding the AZ vaccine has caused many of the general population to be scared witless as to its safety and/or efficacy.
Conspiracy theories are circulating that it's a plot to ensure the use of the Pfizer vaccine is increased thus ensuring more profit for suppliers.
I haven't a clue what's going on but it certainly looks dodgy to me.
Odd isn't it that 17 million doses of the AZ vaccine are in storage in Europe, not being used, yet the EU are complaining that we aren't sending them enough and are threatening retaliation.
Funny old world.

sodapop I have always admired the people of France. When they dislike the gouvernement they usually make it known loud and clear .... protests, strikes etc. Are the everyday French people protesting loudly enough about the vaccine halt in their usual manner? It often works for them to get what they want.
Why can't Macron just let individuals have the choice?

"By the way, one of the purposes of the Auld Alliance, dating from the 13th century, was to protect Scotland against English incursion. So making them nervous was a way of preventing us being invaded."
Thanks, Alegrias1. And how well did that work out over the next couple of hundred years of English incursions? I don't recall either Wallace or Bruce receiving much help from the French, apart from (something like) "You crack on, mes amis. We've got your back."

If we're going to have a discussion about the efficacy of early medieval foreign policy in Europe we should probably have a new thread.

And Johnson isnt suited to the position he holds. Its not that unusual.

Alegrias1

If we're going to have a discussion about the efficacy of early medieval foreign policy in Europe we should probably have a new thread.

Yes, might be interesting.
I was thinking later on too, 18th, 19th century.

sodapop

Macron is not suited to the position he holds. Unfortunately his thoughts and actions are self serving with no thought for the people of France. There has not been as big an outcry as there should be about this here as the anti vaccination lobby is strong.

He’s a member of a very large club stretching g back over decades across the world

The good news is that apparently we are still on track to keep to the roadmap out of lockdown despite the slowing down of vaccinations in April.

There has also been confirmation that second doses due next month will go ahead.

It seems that those in their 40s are the ones who may be slightly delayed in receiving their first doses.

What no one seems to mention is that the U.K. is reliant on imports of vaccines to keep up its programme.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56438629
It’s a worldwide issue though, not just Europe/UK.
This conversation will be more productive once the WHO statement on safety of the Astra Zeneca vaccine is issued later today and the reaction to that is clear, at the moment it’s all speculation isn’t it?

The WHO have already given their assessment. We're waiting for the EMO.

www.who.int/news/item/17-03-2021-who-statement-on-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-safety-signals