Italy blocks export of Covid-19 vaccine doses to Australia

If that’s the true story it’s appalling!

Are they wasting them though? I thought AZ was easily stored in an ordinary fridge until opened. What is the point in shipping it out when only 4% of your own population has been vaccinated?

Australia is gearing up its own Astra Zeneca production plant now, so they will be vaccinating with their own supplies shortly, which is good news. They will probably vaccinate the whole population before some countries in Europe are able to get their act together.
To be fair to Italy their COVID position is perilous again at the moment, and they don’t have the funds to go ‘off contract’ to buy like Germany and France have done? Have they actually approved the use of the AZ vaccine in over 65s yet there though, I haven’t heard?

AZ news just today that Germany is now recommending it for over 65s.
Husband in UK at over 70 had AZ vaccine. I had Pfizer.

I don’t really understand what is going on here. Why is Italy blocking the export of the vaccine? I thought the AZ vaccine was unwanted in Italy, as it is in much of Europe.

It’s a bit late, since all the negative publicity has made people shun the AZ, but Macron and Merkel have both backtracked now and said it’s approved, even for the over 65s.

I still think that certainly in Macron’s case it was sour grapes, because the French vaccine they’d been relying on didn’t work - a great blow to French pride - though I believe they’re still working on it.

Witzend
“It’s a bit late, since all the negative publicity has made people shun the AZ, but Macron and Merkel have both backtracked now and said it’s approved, even for the over 65s.”
About time too Witzend! As I mentioned before my European friends have been appalled that I had the Oxford AZ and was more than happy with it!

I think both Italy and France have shot themselves in the foot sadly, there was a high resistance by people to have any vaccination, the backtracking on AZ won’t have helped.

Yes Bluesky. I have French friends who were amazed /appalled that my husband and myself were happy to have the AZ vaccination.

Macron, Merkel and Ursula vdL need to get on tv being immunised to encourage their citizens.

A lot of French people are appalled at the thought of having any Covid vaccine at all Cathymac

Thank goodness we have gone our own way regarding the vaccine procurement.

Vaccine procurement is the only thing Boris’s government has got right in the last year.

espee totally agree and it’s been run by NHS not a private company
I heard on world radio today that U.K. is the most compliant country in the world for vaccination and France Japan and Singapore the most reluctant
I ve had Oxford Astro Zeneca and more than happy to have had it all the trails have made it equal to all others and above some ...it does me fine

Apparently the reason Italy is refusing to send the vaccine to Australia is because we don’t need it as much as other countries due to our low number of cases. The Az vaccine is about to be produced in Australia and it seems we have sufficient supplies to keep our vaccination program on track.

Ok I’m know I’m thick. Please can someone explain where Astra Zeneca comes from so that I can get how Italy has this power?

Lucca I believe they’ve a plant producing the AZ vaccine.

But what nationality is the company ?

Lucca US group Catalent.

This is not as clear cut as the British press would imply.

On Thursday, according to CNN, Italy's Foreign Ministry explained its decision in two parts:

Firstly, Astra Zeneca was ignoring its contract with the EU in order to supply Australia. As Australia isn’t considered “vulnerable” this was deemed sensible.

Secondly, Italy had authorized the company's export to Australia ^modest quantities of samples intended for scientific research activities^ but this export was flagged because it involved over 250,000 doses.

The statement from the Italian Foreign Ministry cited "the high number of vaccine doses subject to the export authorization request” (that being for research purposes) when compared to the amount of doses provided to Italy and, more generally, to all EU countries so far for ordinary use.

This second point - that what Astra Zeneca sent was not in line with the research request, is being overlooked in the media, presumably as it makes a better story without any nuance.

It seems to me that Astra Zeneca is keeping very quiet.

Italians made it clear they didn’t want the vaccine, they refused to take it. Let it go somewhere where they they do want it. It’s pointless it just sitting there in Italy unused because the Italians don’t want it.

Where is the co ordinated EU approach in all this? Every nation saying and doing something different.
Last night Castex said 20 million French people will hopefully have been vaccinated by mid May. The big rush is on.
Ironically the UK was at that figure in February and by mid May most of the higher groups here will have already had their second vaccine.

I seem to remember reading that Astra Zeneca is a British/Swedish company Lucca

BlueBelle, it comes as a huge surprise to me to read that the three most non-compliant countries include Japan and Singapore. Are you sure? Those two countries have the reputation of being the most disciplined and compliant, surely. Did you misunderstand, perhaps, or mishear?