AZ - EU contract published

[Davros]

Breaking news on BBC

I think it’s more so they can shout about “export controls” whilst not actually doing anything - Pfizer and Moderna are not going to invest in EU capacity when they can’t sell the product around the world

We can only hope so, Dazzle, but politicians have a nasty habit of only focusing on what's in the headlines/exercising their public now rather than thinking to the future

Especially when many are long gone by the time the consequences roll in

@SaraGilbert

So AstraZeneca have been telling porkies.

Where do you get that from?

@DazzlePaintedBattlePants

I also don’t think it’s full on export controls - it’s export reporting, in that companies must let the EU know if they are exporting vaccine.

UK is the largest contributor to the Covax scheme to help other countries who are unable to afford the vaccines.

[quote DrunkenKoala]Here is this afternoon’s EU press conference on the restrictions on exports of the vaccine.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=KWsRwLRGX2c[/quote]
Oh, thanks!!

Just to clear up some of the confusion re Pfizer, they are an American company. Their headquarters is on East 42nd Street in NYC. I used to walk past it every day.

They did not take upfront money from the US government, but they did take binding orders last July for 110m doses for $1.9B.

@Wherrsmaclickypen interested to know how you think the government has pressured them into selling us more than we need, and what that would achieve for them. We don't have that kind of power against pharma, and with so many other willing customers around the globe, there is zero reason for them to be desperate enough to agree to sell us loads. Similarly, for those companies with ties to the UK, foreign money and investment through buying jabs is more beneficial to our economy.

@DazzlePaintedBattlePants

sorry didn't mean to post that under your post! I've had a G and T and am clearly drunk :)

the delivery was due to be ready for the EU in Q1 and the approval has gone through today.

As I understand, the delivery was supposed to be ready by the end of Q1, ie, April 1st.

The doses take time to create (obviously given they now can’t meet the order) so yes they should have kept them for use in EU as part of fulfilling their obligation to the EU.

What about the obligation to the UK, which should surely take precedence given it was signed 3 months earlier?

@CoronaIsWatching

Seems like the UK is going to have to bail Europe out (again) and let them have their vaccines

Oh the fuck we will. 🤣

After their narcisstic tantrums and threats this week, they can take care of themselves.

What about the obligation to the UK, which should surely take precedence given it was signed 3 months earlier?

Yes that's what I don't get. wouldn't it then be a breach of the UKs contracts?

If I was big pharmacy I be withdrawing all production outside of eu right now

Yep. The repercussions of all of this will be far-reaching.

so yes they should have kept them for use in EU as part of fulfilling their obligation to the EU.

No, there was nothing saying contractually they had to. Morally as well during a global pandemic when it wasn't 100% clear when it would be approved in the EU, it would be outrageous to have them gathering dust in a factory somewhere in case they did turn out to need them.

@Wherrsmaclickypen

IcedPurple Export control sounds very desperate for sure.

I asked earlier, but dont think anyone has answered, the UK government stated it had secured 357 million vaccines by last November and is still buying more according to todays press (modena for one). Now this may be flim flam and these are merely options, or intentions at best, but I would be relieved to know that the UK have not pressured pharma into selling or reserving far more vaccines than the UK needs: I would like to be reassured of that before I felt anyone could be judgemental at any other actions in this sorry state of affairs.

Given the government's current defensive actions on litigation around PPE contract corruption and the gross wastage of taxpayers money involved I would be delighted but amazed if their pharma dealings were more considered, appropriate and moral.

That’s pretty unfair. They had to buy a lot of doses from a number of manufacturers as they had no idea if any would work. Imagine if they had just bought Sanofi and the Merk one at 60 million doses each, loads right? Except we’d have nothing at all right now.

Can those of you watching the AZ press briefing and the BJ speech please report back for those of us unable to watch? X

Morally as well during a global pandemic when it wasn't 100% clear when it would be approved in the EU, it would be outrageous to have them gathering dust in a factory somewhere in case they did turn out to need them.

good point

Given the superficial disrespect and distrust of big pharma is only surpassed by the disrespect and distrust of politicians, this was always going to be fraught and disappointing. Imagine how wonderful it would be if the general public i.e. electorates demanded better of them.

news.sky.com/story/watch-sky-news-live-10315632
@CrotchBurn
Stream it online

@Wherrsmaclickypen we pre purchased with many without knowing if they would work, also none of us know if we may need these yearly and 300 million doses isn't going to land on our doorstep all at once , we wouldn't likely sit on lots of doses as don't imagine they can be kept for too long.
The uk have heavily donated to the covax scheme and I can't see them
Sitting on more than we can use as that wouldn't go down with the electorate here very well and goverment have often said global fight, be no point in us being vaccinated but no one able to go anywhere around the world

The AZ vaccine is being provided at cost ($3 a shot). There is no profiteering.

@CrotchBurn

Can those of you watching the AZ press briefing and the BJ speech please report back for those of us unable to watch? X

It's not that exciting. They're refusing to be drawn on the legal issues. Not much here to see.

@DamnUserName21

Thank you!!!

I think it's more a technical discussion about the vaccine and talking about approval in the EU tbh. The CEO has (very charmingly) made it clear that they will not be discussing the row with the EU.

It's on the BBC news channel, could you watch it on iPlayer later?

They all came across well. Reiterated how fast it had been and learning curves at new production sites.

No legal issue discussion. Ox people very good. You can’t fault them on massive effort to deliver vaccine on low cost etc basis

My dad is in his 90s and lives on his own, in an EU country where they are waiting patiently for the vaccines. He has two serious medical conditions and he is very high risk but without vaccination he has very little company and he's terribly lonely. Also it's risky for me to see him and care for him. I'd like to think that IF the UK gets to a stage where they are vaccinating people like me, who are healthy and mid-40s with no underlying conditions, AZ might divert more of their production to EU countries who signed up later. It doesn't feel ethical to say 'first come, first served' in the circumstances.

[quote Backbee]@Wherrsmaclickypen interested to know how you think the government has pressured them into selling us more than we need, and what that would achieve for them. We don't have that kind of power against pharma, and with so many other willing customers around the globe, there is zero reason for them to be desperate enough to agree to sell us loads. Similarly, for those companies with ties to the UK, foreign money and investment through buying jabs is more beneficial to our economy.[/quote]
You are quite right Backbee I am asking how many vaccines the UK government has already secured. The population of the UK is 66million, so 357 million (government press release) seems quite a lot already. Its quite a material point, and I have not found any up to date confirmation.