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/

Why is it fair that she gets half my cake, when her delays are the reason that she has none?

Because without the cake, people will die.

@MintyMabel

Why is it fair that she gets half my cake, when her delays are the reason that she has none?

Because without the cake, people will die.

But the cake is still being eaten (so to speak). Just not in the EU. Nor could it be, because that same EU still hasn't got around to deciding if it wants the cake or not.

[quote EasterIssland]AZ has cancelled the meeting with the EU that they were meant to have tonight , they'll reply back in writing
www.politico.eu/article/astrazeneca-cancels-steering-board-meeting-with-eu/[/quote]
I can’t blame AZ. They obviously want to ensure that the EU can’t twist their words by making sure it’s all in writing. I would do the same.

The EU comes out very poor in this.
Contacts signed before should be honoured first

But the cake is still being eaten (so to speak). Just not in the EU.

Well, that’s ok then. We can start to vaccinate the lesser vulnerable member of our society and the more vulnerable in other countries can just suck it up.

@MintyMabel

But the cake is still being eaten (so to speak). Just not in the EU.

Well, that’s ok then. We can start to vaccinate the lesser vulnerable member of our society and the more vulnerable in other countries can just suck it up.

You're being ridiculous.

Why should Britain donate vaccines to unnamed 'other countries'? That's not what the EU intend to do. They're going to use all the vaccines - whenever their heel-dragging process gets round to it - for themselves. The EU includes some of the most prosperous nations on earth. Why are you painting them as a charity case?

Well if you want to send your dose to the EU, I'd not object. But you can't decide that for everyone in the UK. It's not as if younger people are only mildly affected - saying they/we are at lower risk is all very well unless you happen to be the one to get very sick/long Covid!

@MintyMabel - that's not a uniquely UK position. Note that the EU will be recieving 17% of the AZ supply, with 5% of the world's population. Note also how few vaccines have been given in Africa or South America.

This is not about redistributing vaccines to those who cannot afford them (something I absolutely support). It's about a wealthy and powerful bloc demanding a larger share of something it failed to get organised to order in time.

@Motorina The EU invested €330 million in AZ's R&D, to ensure that supply would be there as soon the licensing approval is granted. That's the return they expect on their investment. It's hardly surprising that they're angry that this has not been fulfilled, and they are entitled to ask questions about what happened and where their money went.

AstraZeneca cancels steering board meeting with EU

www.politico.eu/article/astrazeneca-cancels-steering-board-meeting-with-eu/

AZ clearly are confident in their defence.

EU cannot deny the facts around when they actually signed and agreed contracts.

Any consumer would lose this case if they moaned about their later placed order not being finished at the same time as people ahead of them.

And the EU still haven’t approved the vaccine, until they do this is all nonsense.

@Justanotherlurker

AstraZeneca cancels steering board meeting with EU

www.politico.eu/article/astrazeneca-cancels-steering-board-meeting-with-eu/

AZ clearly are confident in their defence.

EU cannot deny the facts around when they actually signed and agreed contracts.

Any consumer would lose this case if they moaned about their later placed order not being finished at the same time as people ahead of them.

This

Seems like AZ will finally attend the meeting
www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-eu-astrazeneca-mee-idUSKBN29W19P

I assume the money went on the supply chain. But the CEO of AZ said that yield from the vaccine cells cannot be guaranteed, especially if the new people trained aren't experienced in making vaccines. He also said there are always glitches in new set ups. None of that is the UK's fault.
If you sign a contract 3 months later than the someone else those glitches will arise 3 months later.
It would be irresponsible to have Covid vaccine batches sitting in storage that the EU may or may not authorise for use, when there are people here who would willingly use it.

And the EU still haven’t approved the vaccine, until they do this is all nonsense.

AZ only applied to the EMA for approval on 12th Jan and the vaccine will likely be approved this week. That's hardly an unreasonable delay, given that the regulators have to carefully analyse the data.

AZ could reasonably predict that the approval would come around now. They were given €330 million to ensure that supply could start quickly once approval came through, that was the basis of the agreement. They failed to do that, and pulling out of today's meeting is a red flag. Where is the transparency?

The EU and particularly the very hysterical sounding women in last nights C4 news are really not showing themselves in a good light here . ( and I generally am pro EU) . The way she was banging on about AZ making profits and how they need to up production just showed how ignorant she is both of the contract they signed, the contract AZ have with Oxford University to make the vaccine available at cost and crucially how fragile the whole production process is. These are not widgets the process involves a biological culture with a variable yield.

Thanks op

The EU want the contract to be made public, but Astrazeneca have to agree to that. I don't think the EU would be calling for this if they didn't feel confident that they are in the right.

hysterical sounding women

Seriously?

@wfhconfusion the EU contract is on the basis of best efforts and the EU were warned that their relatively late investment would mean that they may not be able to meet the hoped for supply by the required deadline this is why the ‘best efforts ‘ clause was agreed . There have been problems in the US as well and the U.K. but because the Agreements were signed so early they have been able to manage these problems. I think the EU were banking on Sanofi coming through.

This is not just a case of employing a few more people and throwing a bit more money at it, it’s a complex multi stage process

@wfhconfusion yes I don’t know who she was but she literally wouldn’t let the interviewer get a word in edgewise . Very unlike their usual measured interviews .

And my understanding is that the EU knew, when they signed the contact, that the UK supply would not be affected and that their contract was a best effort one.

Either way, they signed 3 months later so are behind in the process - the largest stumbling block of which will be that they are 3 months behind in ironing out issues in the production process. AZ can hardly just churn out any old concoction.

My biggest gripe with this is that it was stated, from the very start, that the AZ main aim is for the vaccine to be available, worldwide, on a not-for-profit basis. All of this griping from governments, along with media always being in a rush to get a scoop and sensationalise, is bloody distasteful.

Emotions are understandably running high. But this kind of backlash doesn’t do anyone any favours.

And honestly I don’t use that term lightly!

All we know about the contract is what the AZ CEO has said. Which is it boils down to, "You're very late, we'll do our best, there may be hiccups, so no promises".

Unless and until the EU produces evidence that the contract was more robust than that, with guaranteed delivery dates and amounts, then I can't see that they're doing more than making noise. And "We're really pissed off" isn't the same as "You're in breach of contract", no matter how they might want that to be.

Ultimately that will be for the courts to decide. Because what everyone wants is for the AZ team to be tied up with a law suit and distracted from vaccine production...

@Baileysforchristmas

And the EU still haven’t approved the vaccine, until they do this is all nonsense.

Exactly!