A really interesting, calm interview with the head of AstraZeneca

[HelloThereMeHearties]

This is really worth reading, to shed some light on the whole sorry EU vaccine mess. It's in English.

Also really interesting about the mechanics of vaccine rollout.

www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2021/01/26/news/interview_pascal_soriot_ceo_astrazeneca_coronavirus_covid_vaccines-284349628/

[quote Empressofthemundane]@JaninaDuszejko

Exactly! A contract like this would not be a guaranteed number of doses.

Since AZ was producing at cost for customers, and the EU defined the costs they were willing to pay for a targeted amount, it was in essence the EU who specified a weak manufacturing and supply chain. They bargained to take more risk in return for cheaper doses.[/quote]
Exactly you put it so much better than me

Considering the cost this pandemic has had on the economies of the EU, it seems crazy to start penny-pinching over the vaccine.

The AZ vaccine was their third choice, @Wildswim. They had The French vaccine and Pfizer as other more likely options. Unfortunately, the French vaccine hasn’t worked out.

Putting aside all of the legalities (which will be robustly looked at and - I hope - reported on sensibly in the media), my overwhelming feeling tonight is a complete flipping slump.

Lockdown, around the world, has been shit for the majority. Scientists have done an amazing effort in producing, so far, 3 vaccines in a very short space of time - with hopefully a couple more to be approved. AZ aim is global and not-for-proft. And this week it’s been reduced to high profile arguments etc. It’s damaging on so many levels and detracts from the main aim.

Im going to feel pissed off if the EU are at fault, and I’m going to feel really let down if AZ are at fault. Either way, I hope that there is a way for it to be resolved ASAP - and that the findings/facts can be made public (in a way which states the legal outcome, but protects contractual privacy if necessary).

@Furries

Putting aside all of the legalities (which will be robustly looked at and - I hope - reported on sensibly in the media), my overwhelming feeling tonight is a complete flipping slump.

Lockdown, around the world, has been shit for the majority. Scientists have done an amazing effort in producing, so far, 3 vaccines in a very short space of time - with hopefully a couple more to be approved. AZ aim is global and not-for-proft. And this week it’s been reduced to high profile arguments etc. It’s damaging on so many levels and detracts from the main aim.

Im going to feel pissed off if the EU are at fault, and I’m going to feel really let down if AZ are at fault. Either way, I hope that there is a way for it to be resolved ASAP - and that the findings/facts can be made public (in a way which states the legal outcome, but protects contractual privacy if necessary).

The whole thing about 'our' vaccine is very depressing tbh.

Its damaging in so many ways.

But all these big pharma contract, desparation for a limited supply and political rivalry was always going to play a role.

Once the EU, UK and US get their lot done then the rest of the world will get scraps - with all three using vaccine as a global lever for influence and trade deals which are tipped in favour of the big players. There's not much noble in this.

Its not about health now. Its about power and profit that can be made off the back of having vaccine.

Its a viral goldrush.

The UK is already saying it has surplus vaccine on order it can give away.

Its not just about supply of the AZ vaccine to the EU. Theres a wider trade war about to kick in.

Its not easy nor pleasant watching.

@RedToothBrush have you heard about what Covax is ?

Covax is a great idea in principle. In practice i think the reality will be it be slow and only filling in the gaps where nations haven't bought up vaccine for themselves.

We need everywhere to have the vaccine but if influence can be got from outside covax i am sure it will be. Simply due to demand and people wanting to 'jump the queue' if they can.

If the UK is willing to give away its surplus, is that not a good thing - putting health first?

I agree with the poster that said whoever is at fault it's disappointing.

I will be incredibly disappointed if AZ are at fault given all their purported aims with making this not for profit. Equally if EU are at fault it makes they're behaviour over the last couple of days shockingly poor.

*Their

@redtoothbrush the only reason we will have surplus to give away is we pre purchased several as no one knew whose would work and whose wouldn't.
We are having to wait on the modena despite approving, what I can't understand is now we have several with potential of a couple close , can others that are being worked on maybe now be used to manufacture the working ones ? Is there a way the world can up supply ??

@wfhconfusion they won't just agree to publish a contract we don't know what other sensitive things are in it
Either way the eu should of been taking this up with az not threatening the uk.
We won't of seen or signed their agreement and would of only concentrated on what ours was about.

Either way the eu should of been taking this up with az not threatening the uk.

They are! This is between the EU and Astrazeneca. The fact that the British media are having a fit doesn't change that.

And according to reports today a redacted version of the contract will be published tomorrow, so we'll see what it says.

I don’t threatening not to send vaccines to the UK is dealing with the supplier.

And making everything so public is terrible, it could’ve been dealt with just the company without dragging all the media into it.

@wfhconfusion

Either way the eu should of been taking this up with az not threatening the uk.

They are! This is between the EU and Astrazeneca. The fact that the British media are having a fit doesn't change that.

And according to reports today a redacted version of the contract will be published tomorrow, so we'll see what it says.

Deep joy. Now all the trade experts that swiftly became epidemiology experts will now become pharmaceutical supply contract experts.

@wfhconfusion what about some of the comments made and threat of export bans ?

Thank you OP for sharing the article. It was really interesting.

There's a possibility that the EU will put in place reporting requirements on where stock created in the EU is exported to and in what numbers. That is not an export ban, much as the Daily Mail and the Express might scream about it. It's about transparency so the EU can see that they're receiving their correct share.

The EU never threatened the UK, they are questioning Astrazeneca on where their supplies have gone, and why they're the only customer having their supply cut. That is perfectly reasonable.

@wfhconfusion I don't have time
To look up the quotes made by some now , but some of the wording was not quite like that.
But just watched one now and he worded a lot better

.

An article in the Guardian EU are about to block vaccines being exported to the UK, yeah that really sounds like they are taking up their issues with the supplier 🙄

@wfhconfusion but its not just simply that
I get them having an issue with supply ( dependent on contracts who knows who is right/ wrong here ) and if its diverted from
Uk's also promisee supply we will be on to them as well as we also have a contract.
We haven't ruler out helping either

@wfhconfusion to be honest it should be clear what was sent where and info availible anyway .
Export paperwork will have to of been completed for each and every shipment

Have the EU now approved the AZ vaccine? It would be pretty unreasonable for them to think that AZ would simply store their order until they were ready for it, they have acted as if there no urgency for it. I think it would have been morally indefensible for AZ to have done that given the situation the world is in.

Dose yield is a known variable so it's incredibly naive to think the required doses would just conveniently be available by the time they got round to approving the vaccine.

The contract details may shed more light but it's reprehensible for the EU to air their dirty laundry at a time when people need confidence in those making decisions on their behalf.

@FOJN, nope. The expectation is tomorrow but, for Germany at least, for under 65s only. I don't know if that will be the same for all of the EU - don't understand enough about the process.

The implication of that, though, is the EU expect vaccines to be diverted from over 70s in the UK, many of whom have not have the first dose, and almost all of whom have not had the second, to give first and second doses to less-vulnerable under 65s.