The E.U. And AstraZeneca row.

Novovax is apparently 83% effective against the new Ariana too. Very impressive!

Check out what some of the European press are saying about it all biba:

For much of the European press, the public spat between the EU and AstraZeneca was the latest Brexit battle – but there was little support for the bloc’s position.

Die Zeit - the German paper, said the European Commission had offered “the best advertisement for Brexit” by “acting slowly, bureaucratically and in a protectionist manner”.

“How did the atmosphere get so poisoned?” Bild_ asked, under a headline of “Vaccine row gets ever crazier”.

“If Europe keeps messing around with vaccines … it’s going to prove the Brexiteers right,” read an editorial in Belgium’s Het Laatste Nieuws._

There’s definitely a surplus - we’ve ordered 100 million doses of Astra-Zeneca, 40 million doses of Pfizer, and 17 million doses of Moderna as well.

JenniferEccles

I am sure everyone is aware that it’s in all our interests for the whole world to be vaccinated as quickly as possible, but it’s just totally unacceptable for the EU to attempt to requisition millions of doses destined for us.

I was amused to read that the German press has stated that the EU’s handling of the vaccine rollout is ‘the best advert for Brexit’ !
The German press!!

So yes vaccinate all
But only if I get mine first?

Is that the pointy end of it?

What a shame that certain elements of the press are politicising this. They are a nasty lot. Everyone wants the same thing and competition shouldn’t enter into it, and neither should rivalry between nations.

In order for us to fight this virus, which recognises no boundaries, we must ensure the vaccine is used as effectively as possible world wide.

British campaign raises 820 million euros for Covid vaccine in poor countries
Britain has helped raise 818 million euros from global donors as part of a drive to help "vulnerable countries" access coronavirus vaccines, by match-funding contributions. The UK has also committed £548 million to the COVAX project, matching every $4 pledged by other donors with £1 from London.

We’ve certainly been very nimble.

Hopefully we will soon be able to give the vaccine in an easier format which means that the vaccine centres and all the staff won’t be necessary.

‘The EU is investing €336m (£297m) in AstraZeneca in return for 400m doses. But not all of the money has been paid to the pharmaceutical company so EU lawyers are examining whether there has been a breach of contract.’

As said, without seeing the contracts, no-one can really judge the situation. Certainly very nimble- but all the breast beating and awful Press coverage by the Tabloid Press has certainly not helped.

-“Norway has become one of the first countries in the world to explicitly commit to sharing Covid-19 vaccine doses with poorer countries at the same time as vaccinating its own citizens-“

No man is an island.

I am embarrassed to speak with my English accent.

The last I heard newswise, is that the EU are blocking pheizer exports into UK and elsewhere. They have even Demanded that AZ send the production from the UK to them!

Pheizer have a production line in Brussels and AZ do too.
Several EU member countries were ordering their own supplies but the EU commission said no, that it would all be centralised and then delayed putting an order in in time.

Why can't the EU Commission own up to their mishandling of the situation, instead of trying to put the blame elsewhere.

Don’t be embarrassed mokryna the UK has done nothing wrong, we wisely ordered and signed contracts for the supply of vaccine from various sources. The EU dragged their feet in many areas and are now back pedalling and trying to blame Astra Zeneca to save political face.
The UK has already sent doses to dependencies in the West Indies and will absolutely share more as we always do. We are one of the most compassionate and generous countries in the world.

LauraNorder

Don’t be embarrassed mokryna the UK has done nothing wrong, we wisely ordered and signed contracts for the supply of vaccine from various sources. The EU dragged their feet in many areas and are now back pedalling and trying to blame Astra Zeneca to save political face.
The UK has already sent doses to dependencies in the West Indies and will absolutely share more as we always do. We are one of the most compassionate and generous countries in the world.

Absolutely

I think there is something wrong with the information in some posts. The UK is signed up to Covax (financially as well as just a signature).

The government said that the UK was committed to supporting equitable and affordable access to new covid-19 vaccines and treatments around the world. Harris comments, “The UK has publicly acknowledged that if more than one or two of the vaccines that they’ve invested in succeeds, they may be left with oversupply. I know that they have every intention of contributing that supply into an initiative [to supply vaccine to poorer countries].” (1)

I don't like the generally me, me, me politics of this government and its supporters and I am not going all out to praise them for finally doing something well at last, but we must stick to facts or we become no better than Trump or Johnson with their "bending of truths" or lies as we would normally call them.

(1) www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3226

Casdon definite surplus assuming all are approved. Disappointed to read EU have introduced restriction on vaccines to N Ireland in case it’s used as a ‘back door’ into the rest of the UK.

From what I’ve heard thus far, and given the fact that Hungary are going it alone vaccine wise, even if we’d been in the EU we could still have dealt with the vaccine roll out in exactly the same way that we are doing. Having said that, the EU are acting very strangely, especially as they weren’t even going to meet to discuss it till after Christmas. It is a relief that the U.K. have finally got something right pandemically (is that a proper word?). I’m sure that it was just the new variants that finally made the government take it seriously.

The feisty Arlene Foster has a lot to say on the issue. She’s NOT impressed with the EU’s stance as it blatantly affects the GFA.

This can of worms is getting worse.

Brexit affected the GFA by definition, I'm afraid.

Not a land border though. This is now a new twist. I think Ursula vdL and the European Commission have made a bad situation worse. They have apparently been contacted by Dublin this evening for triggering the Brexit protocol.

Such a mess.
Stop digging would be my advice.

German politicians and media have turned on Ursula vdL tonight citing her ‘carelessness’ over the Covid fiasco.

This isn’t going to end well for the EU procurement decisions. Holding out for a less expensive ‘good deal’ has cost them dearly it seems and very sadly, not just financially.

EU showing themselves up for what they are.
Spiteful bullies.
They’re like the bitter ex trying to get their own back.

Well the woman did send German troops out to train with broom handles because she didn't order enough guns. So it never did bode well really did it?

Perhaps if she hadn't been the only candidate on the ballot paper when the EU parliament elected the Commission president things might have been different. But that's EU 'democracy' for you.

Actually on thinking about it, the EU has triggered a vaccine border between Eire and Norther Ireland.

The border having been created for vaccines it obviously exists for everything else so we can dismantle the NI protocol.

Wonder what Biden will think of it all when he wakes up in the morning? Not a happy bunny I’d bet. I’m glad our government has made no comment. Yet.

Let’s spare a thought for the people of Northern Ireland, they are in the most awful situation at the moment as a result of both COVID and the impact of Brexit. Regardless of the politics it is wrong that part of the UK is affected so badly and treated as if they are unimportant pawns in the game.

The EU is now saying it was a simple error that lead to this.

I agree Casdon which is why, as I said earlier, Arlene Foster is so furious.

If I were Boris or the British government I would continue to keep my own counsel. They are being commendably restrained. This behaviour of the EU is not the behaviour of a confident well led organisation. No, this is an ill thought out knee-jerk reaction. This is a really interesting development though.

The EU appears as the unbending, unimaginative, authorative bully boy. Their actions now will poison relations for a generation. People and media commentators are taking another look at the EU. It’s being played out on the world stage. As I say, I wonder what Biden will think tomorrow?

Incredible times, the very warnings that so many of us have been trying to get across to the wider public are now being propagated by the EU itself. Who would have thought it possible?