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

and this ridiculous little spat over vaccines isn't helping either side. Co-operation is in everyone's interests.

Except it isn't a spat on both sides. It's a completely one sided spat which the other side didn't really engage it but just kept cracking on vaccinating.

If we were still in the EU, we wouldn’t be having this vaccine drive that everyone is raving about. Can you remainers handle that?

I’m sure the legal eagles will be arguing over that contract for time immemorial, far longer than it will be of relevance I’m sure. However the issue of article 16 shows a shocking lack of understanding of, or consideration for the island of Ireland. I’m not sure this can be brushed under the carpet as easily.

I'm dual national, totally on UK side in this, also appalled at the EU. They have not paid for the vaccination anywhere near what UK and US have, yet expect the same treatment..I hope AstraZeneca sues for reputation damage- they are producing those vaccines for no profit!

To the poster saying UK is in decline- newsflash, whole EUROPE is in decline and has been for some time. Asia is on the up.

I never thought the EU could be so spiteful.
They’ve left the UK off the exempt list. Even the US and Canada are on the exempt list.
In effect they can put vaccines bound for the UK on an export ban.

Astra Zeneca’s share price has dropped by 7% since last Tuesday.

This is not about saving lives. This is the major economies wanting to get back on their feet quickly and the EU don’t want the UK to be in a better position than them.

And I am a remainer.

@MadCatLady71

A high ranking attorney in Belgium has already been recorded saying that the EU have no case.

@Oreservoir

I never thought the EU could be so spiteful. They’ve left the UK off the exempt list. Even the US and Canada are on the exempt list. In effect they can put vaccines bound for the UK on an export ban.

Astra Zeneca’s share price has dropped by 7% since last Tuesday.

This is not about saving lives. This is the major economies wanting to get back on their feet quickly and the EU don’t want the UK to be in a better position than them.

And I am a remainer.

You sum it up very well.

@MesmerisingMinerva

The Commission didn’t consult the Irish government before triggering Article 16! That speaks volumes about how the power is wielded. Who knows why they backed down? Perhaps because they realised how outrageous they looked? Or because they realised it would only serve to harm their own prospects further?

There is no ‘spat’ between ‘both sides’. The Commission is entirely the aggressor here. It’s failure to implement a timely vaccine procurement process means it is hampered by supply chain issues at the point that other countries are in full roll out. The same supply chain issues that the U.K. ironed out 3 months ago. The fact is that the EU left it too late and is behind the pack. Rather than owning this, they’re accusing AZ of all sorts and purporting to have rights to vaccines purchased by the U.K. It is disgraceful behaviour!

I am surprised though that every new vaccine that gets approved the UK seem to have pre ordered millions of shots, I get that they were quick and signed up early but how many vaccines do you need? Isn’t the population about 66 million so 132 million would be two shots for everyone, but the uk seems to have pre ordered 100s of millions, so much more than you will ever need, so I don’t understand why everyone is getting so upset.

^This is a very good point. The poster who raised saying "its called hedging your bets" is not considering other countries like Spain where vaccination has stalled owing to lack of supply. This is a global pandemic requiring global solutions. No man is an island and all of that ... .

the EU have stepped back on this now havent they? it's embarrassing i think, EU lashing out to cover inefficiencies, bad planning, bad luck, low take-up or whatever. But its over.

However the UK needs the vaccine arguably more than other nations, while the UK leads the world in vax rollout, we are near the bottom of the table for all the other measures on dealing with the pandemic.

@MesmerisingMinerva

You call the U.K. govt ‘greedy’ - the Commission wasted time negotiating the AZ contracts because they were attempting to get a cheaper deal of a vaccine that is being produced at cost value!

@Tobleronehouses good point, Gove has offered (patronisingly) to share 🤔 but probably limited amount enough to stave off bad PR. let's hope we share with poorer countries too.

The poster who raised saying "its called hedging your bets" is not considering other countries like Spain where vaccination has stalled owing to lack of supply.

Due to the inefficienct EU procedures.

I’m firmly remain and that is still the case but the EU’s conduct is making me slightly less upset about Brexit.

@tara671 that is bollocks. That is not the reason it took so long.

My EU friends are angry at the EU for messing up. Said that UK will be back on its feet quicker and the EU won't like that. I can see that point they make because after years of trashing us fir leaving how our economy will suffer blah blah, well once we vaccinate we will be able to turn hints around. Suddenly the EU will be far behind and failing.

Bit of a shame that this in the middle of a deadly pandemic because this last week has been absolutely fascinating!

Be (genuinely) very interesting to see how this affects thinking in 5 years time say, when, hopefully, Covid is really just a memory. But we still have Brexit.

As a remainer, it's been a useful distraction from news stories about lorries trying to go in and out of Europe etc.

As the situation is currently, I would say we're more likely to be voting in Johnson again at whenever the next GE is .

@Itscoldouthere

I’m currently in Canada and we are already having problems getting the vaccines that were pre ordered, so the roll out here is very slow. I’m sure this EU issue may effect the supply here even more. The UK are doing really well with their roll out and I’m really pleased they are, as the numbers of deaths and general infection are so high the vaccine is what will get you out of this. I am surprised though that every new vaccine that gets approved the UK seem to have pre ordered millions of shots, I get that they were quick and signed up early but how many vaccines do you need? Isn’t the population about 66 million so 132 million would be two shots for everyone, but the uk seems to have pre ordered 100s of millions, so much more than you will ever need, so I don’t understand why everyone is getting so upset. I get that it gives a good opportunity to complain about the EU but at the end of the day, the UK is likely to get the population vaccinated quicker than many other countries. I agree with the WHO and think this is a worldwide problem and it’s a shame that people are not thinking about that.

@Itscoldouthere A lot of countries have over-ordered. Even Canada.

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03370-6

The article predates the J&J and Novavax vaccines.

I'm just hoping the excess will go to where it's really needed-low income countries.

@mesmerisingminerva - you really don't read the links people provide you to help you see what's actually happening.

I think you're just being obtuse or shit stirring for the sake of it. I think I'll call the latter.

It is exactly why it took so long - they've approved it yesterday - they should have spent the last months preparing suitable processing and sites with AZ - they have put their eggs in in with French vaccine which failed. That's the story - it's rather negative against the EU, but that's the truth or why the EU are failing to delivery to their citizens. Appalling blame game from them for own inadequacies.

I am seriously annoyed that once again NI is being used as a political football. Do the EU and UK leaders have any idea what they are doing at all messing in a delicate situation like the border just by playing politics. I am beyond fed up of the arguing and oneupmanship, I wish they would just all grow up, work together and just get this mess sorted out. None of us are safe until we are all safe, vaccinating NI while ROI lags far behind is completely pointless given the connectivity both sides of the border and across the Irish Sea.

@IcedPurple

The poster who raised saying "its called hedging your bets" is not considering other countries like Spain where vaccination has stalled owing to lack of supply.

Due to the inefficienct EU procedures.

Well it could (justifiably) be interpreted as inefficiency but one could also say that its just the nature of the beast that it take 27 countries longer to agree something than one government on its own.

Thats the price you pay for being part of a group. But there are also benefits like being able to stand up to the might of Facebook, Amazon and Google with regard to paying tax for example.

Its swings and roundabouts.

@Floppywin

This is why I have had such a long break from MN.

I am not a shit stirrer, nor am I obtuse. I have been quite reasonable in my posts. I have admitted that the EU fucked up, in several of my posts.

@lovelemoncurd

I came on this thread thinking it would be comments from EU citizens. Instead it's just erupted into another anti EU thread between Brexit and remain voters.

Can we stick to the question the op posted!?

I totally agree - and we should LISTEN to what EU citizens have to say - not argue that they are wrong.

@Tobleronehouses
I've said this on another thread but to my mind we need to look at the entire question of vaccine acquisition from a global point of view. It's not about the race of one country to get it before another. It's a global pandemic and therefore the response has to be global. In order for the UK to thrive and become economically stable again, it's neighbours need to be Covid-free too. We are all inter-dependent.

I have to agree.
(Looking from outside of the uk (not EU but close))
It should be noted that AZ loyalty lies with the UK because the government invested in vaccine production when they realised it was the only way forward.
UK has had the highest number of deaths -tragic. Sadly investment in the NHS and health of the nation has been a factor here. not to mention a slow reaction to the virus at the beginning followed by bad policies, poor adherence to lockdowns and other restrictions (when compared to most of the EU).

BJs fight to keep AZ putting the UK first is the only way he can save himself. It seems that it's working.