What do EU nationals think of the vaccines mess?

[Frazzled2207]

I’m a committed remainer. But the EU really did mess up last night. More seriously they are not in a good position right now with regards vaccine supply. Lots of anti-Eu posts here right now from committed remainers like me.

Just wondering what EU citizens make of all this and is there any bad feeling towards the UK? Do you think the EU has a right to some of the UK’s vaccine supply? Are people angry at the fact that the UK was able to secure more vaccines more quickly? Or are we coming across as selfish idiots?
Generally curious and am not here to start an argument

EU won’t want images of successful UK vaccine roll out whilst EU still in lockdown so the cynic in me thinks it is a way to use vaccine on younger population first ? Can’t see any other reason.

At least in Germany, the government (which UvdL is not a part of) never said that the vaccine doesn't work in older people. The responsible expert commission said they don't have enough data to recommend approval for over 65 and will reevaluate in a few weeks. The same expert commission also recommended to stick with the original schedule and not increase the time between doses - they are not claiming that that doesn't work but that they want to stick with what's proven with reliable data. They are not putting anybody down, they just prefer to err on the side of caution.

Whether that's the right approach in this situation is a different question, but in countries with more vaccination skepticism it seems a defensible choice, and the reason behind it is certainly not to get the economy going at the cost of lives.

Ooh interesting Clavinova

I was reading a couple of articles on Valneva yesterday which I thought were a good example of investment early and planning ahead:

U.K. September 2020
valneva.com/press-release/valneva-announces-major-covid-19-vaccine-partnership-with-u-k-government/

EU did not finish exploratory talks with Valneva until 12th January 2021

ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_51

Today U.K. have now purchased the additional 40million doses mentioned in first link.

www.politico.eu/article/uk-secures-40m-more-doses-of-valneva-vaccine/

The government invested very heavily early on and then put their faith in the scientists that these vaccines would come good for us and they have (fortunately). This is something that this country should be proud of (and the wider world should be pleased about) they will all benefit from this.

It's very bad form if any country uses vaccine successes as a stick to beat us with.

I would think at some point the EU are going to have to hold up their hands up and say 'we're sorry, we were too bureaucratic, too focused on price and just too slow'.

Van der Leyen really needs to STFU and sort out her own back garden. Is she implying that the MHRA, one of the most globally respected bodies in its field, rushed out approval with disregard for the health and safety of the British people?

That's a pretty serious accusation, and she needs to be able to back it up. Bet she can't.

Looks like UVDL has 'gone rogue'

I'm an EU citizen and am more worried about the half vaccine dose being administered which risks covid mutating into a version which the vaccine can't touch ! Britain's world beating figures are ridiculous when the vaccine is only half administered. Like building a house with no roof and boasting about how quickly you built it !

'They' are not making half as much of a fuss as you are lead to believe by the British press .It is certainly being covered in the news and print media but is certainly not a frenzy of 'them and us' as is apparent on MN and in the press in Britain. I have elderly Irish parents ,elderly German in laws , an Italian Sister in law and British nephews .I hope it works out well for us all.

@tenredthings

I'm an EU citizen and am more worried about the half vaccine dose being administered which risks covid mutating into a version which the vaccine can't touch ! Britain's world beating figures are ridiculous when the vaccine is only half administered. Like building a house with no roof and boasting about how quickly you built it !

There is no 'half vaccine dose' being administered though.

Half vaccine dose??

I think you are another who has utterly misunderstood the science.. of many vaccines over the decades... you have MMR didn't you - a 2-part shot, 2/12 years apart.

Do you travel? Cholera, Hep A and B (3-part shots).

You are leaning on some non existant science there @tenredthings

@schnubbins

'They' are not making half as much of a fuss as you are lead to believe by the British press .It is certainly being covered in the news and print media but is certainly not a frenzy of 'them and us' as is apparent on MN and in the press in Britain. I have elderly Irish parents ,elderly German in laws , an Italian Sister in law and British nephews .I hope it works out well for us all.

Although we got various things about being made to ‘suffer’, talk of article 16, 122, court case, export authorisation, MRHA rushed job. It’s been full on even if your average citizen isn’t talking about it.

There wasn’t much said by U.K. in return. Tg. Just let it blow over.

Hopefully it will die down and go away completely as we all get on with vaccination rollouts

@Schnubbins, but there are some very ntereting EU articles dotted around throughout the thread. So some are as interested as we are.

Making a note that MN is quite an unusual space to find openly available, used mainly by women, and has many non UK posters!

There wasn’t much said by U.K. in return. Tg. Just let it blow over. To be completely fair, what was aid was low key and gave even The Goviot a chance to look learned! Liz Truss had a moment of logic too!

I can see that a thread like this seems to suggest there is a huge hue and cry about it, that many (outside rags like The Sun) are annoyed and shouting about it. But most people are, like many here, just wondering "What the hell was that about?"

I don't know why people on these threads keep going on about how everyone is brainwashed by the 'British press'. Much of the British media is very Europhile.

As if people aren't brainwashed by the EU press and the news on European TV. I'm beginning to think Al Jazeera is the best news programme - it's like the BBC world service was a few decades ago and if you want pure news and don't like being told what you should think, I'd recommend it.

I used to use AlJ for work,. I may have to go back to it!

This piece on BBC world service is interesting

twitter.com/bbcrosatkins/status/1356354283202088960?s=21

If a vaccine requires two doses at a given interval to give a proper immunity, then arguing over whether only having one of those doses is a 'half' dose is semantics.
The vaccine is being doled out contra to the advice of the manufacturers, (who specify two vaccines are required at a given interval), in the hope that it will still be effective. A decision taken by a government who have proven themselves to be more interested in winning the number game than saving lives.
It suits their narrative to direct attention on the EU and away from their abject failures.

@tenredthings

If a vaccine requires two doses at a given interval to give a proper immunity, then arguing over whether only having one of those doses is a 'half' dose is semantics. The vaccine is being doled out contra to the advice of the manufacturers, (who specify two vaccines are required at a given interval), in the hope that it will still be effective. A decision taken by a government who have proven themselves to be more interested in winning the number game than saving lives. It suits their narrative to direct attention on the EU and away from their abject failures.

No the EU is attracting attention all by itself. See actions taken / noise made and very little response from U.K.

Even if you don’t trust government look to MRHA and JCVI as they are people advising.

"playing the numbers game" what a daft comment - the decision made in the UK is it is best to give two grandparents 89% rather than one grandparent 95% immunity is a good way to help understand how it works. There is a level of immunity given by first dose only.

Also, that helps bring down transmission within the community at large by more people being vaccinated.

The UK have quietly got on with vaccinating people - the noise is from the EU. UK population having an opinion is not "noise" it is discussion - the "noise" is all from the EU.....

[quote Ohthatsgreat]This piece on BBC world service is interesting

twitter.com/bbcrosatkins/status/1356354283202088960?s=21[/quote]
Just love that dear old Martin Selmeyr (not dear at all) is claiming EU vaccine rollout is a success compared to ..... Africa. Was he drunk when he tweeted that?

That's how little respect he has for the average Joe.

Floppywin there isn't yet strong evidence that any of the vaccines prevent asymptomatic transmission. Its only been proved that they prevent serious illness in the vaccinated person. Which is why healthcare professionals still need to wear PPE in exactly the same way after the second dose as before the first.

Belgium have announced tonight they won't give AZ vaccine to over 65s as not sufficient data yet. Germany and Sweden too I think.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

Floppywin there isn't yet strong evidence that any of the vaccines prevent asymptomatic transmission. Its only been proved that they prevent serious illness in the vaccinated person. Which is why healthcare professionals still need to wear PPE in exactly the same way after the second dose as before the first.

You need to check out tonight's news re oxford/AZ vaccine and transmission

The new evidence is in😉😊

Good news on AZ

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/oxford-vaccine-may-have-67-effect-on-transmission-and-protection-remains-for-three-month-jab-interval-12206734

[quote Baileysforchristmas]Good news on AZ

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/oxford-vaccine-may-have-67-effect-on-transmission-and-protection-remains-for-three-month-jab-interval-12206734[/quote]
Great stuff.

Bloody brilliant news

Anyone want to argue about transmission or the 12 week gap now?

Listen to our amazing experts and stop listening to Twitter and the media😎

I too have been interested to know what the press in EU countries has been like over this mess.
Interesting, but not surprising that the EU's handling of the situation has been brushed over.
Has there been much press specifically on the EU paying less for the AZ vaccine than the UK? Is it widely acknowledged that AZ had to start over on the EU supply chain in order to make sure they could make the vaccine at the price the EU insisted upon? This has taken time!

I'm gobsmacked that the article 16 which made it into a policy document was signed by 26 countries, including Ireland before the shit hit the fan. Totally unacceptable to not highlight that entry in the policy for careful review.

I am so saddened for EU citizens who were already worried about vaccines to have been lied to about the safety of AZ vaccines. Completely irresponsible and will cause unnecessary deaths, just as our government has done with not closing borders sooner.

We all deserve better governments, and should hold them to account when they wrong us, otherwise what incentive to they have to represent us better??