EU threaten to cut off vaccine supply to the UK 2

[Baileysforchristmas]

As the other thread is full

www.politico.eu/article/commission-proposes-six-week-vaccine-export-ban-amid-fears-of-trade-war/

Thank you, Baileys. I just realised I filled it up before anyone had started a new one - I didn't realise it was so close to 1000.

Additional note to the end of the last thread. The stock at the Helix plant is going out of date, we offered to take it, but it is not a good look for the EU. HOWEVER, surely it will look even worse if these doses are left to go out of date.

The main issue, which I noted before, is that the EU have not changed their authorisation process, either for vaccine approval or manufacturing approval. They are still running sequential approvals, step by step, before moving to the next step. Very early on we moved to concurrent. It's just another illustration of how the EU has not been flexible enough to respond to emergency. They accuse us of moving too quickly, and endangering lives....... well, the opposite of that is of course, where they now find themselves, move slowly and inflexibly, and you too endanger lives.

From the politico article linked above, quoting a 'non EU diplomat' -
the real problem was still the refusal of the U.S. and U.K. — two of the wealthiest dose-manufacturing nations — to supply other countries worldwide with vaccines.

The billions the US and the UK have given to Covax don't count, then? And the UK investment in producing a low cost, easily distributed, not for profit vaccine also doesn't count?

The story about the 30m doses lost in Italy has made Spanish media., so my friends are telling me how we're stealing their vaccines and that the EU should kidnap them all.

I keep thinking sharing it would be more helpful than starting a war whilst people is dying but I might be one of the only ones thinking about it, seems like it

@UserEleventyNine

From the politico article linked above, quoting a 'non EU diplomat' - the real problem was still the refusal of the U.S. and U.K. — two of the wealthiest dose-manufacturing nations — to supply other countries worldwide with vaccines.

The billions the US and the UK have given to Covax don't count, then? And the UK investment in producing a low cost, easily distributed, not for profit vaccine also doesn't count?

This. I am fed up of saying the UK has not contributed to other countries.

I don’t think they were destined for the UK anyway.

@Baileysforchristmas

I don’t think they were destined for the UK anyway.

spanish media is saying its

"The drugs located in Italy are almost double those that the EU has received so far from the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company and, according to La Stampa, their final destination is the United Kingdom, which would have bought them to guarantee a second dose to almost 15 million of people."

tbh I dont care, im more worried about tomorrows outcome and the consequences it'll have worldwide, ii keep thinking bojo's approach of being friends and helping each other is better even if that means not vaccinating by July everyone, than the uvdl approach

Times Brussels correspondent:
@BrunoBrussels
A European source has me, this is apparently a shipment for Canada and Mexico
·
1h
EU sources saying that stockpile includes Covax doses

So whats the mechanism for them seizing and using these doses they found?
Any comments from Mexico or Canada?
UK can lose vaccines we didn't know were in Italy.

Its like the vaccine de vincristine code

A poster on the previous thread mentioned that they don't understand is how this doesn't break international law, but frankly I doubt this would bother German politicians.
It's only recently that they lost their top spot in the "number of breaches of EU law list" - to Spain I believe - and after all it's self-interested politicians rather than lawyers who'll decide this

It's all very well saying we could pursue it legally, but that could take an awfully long time and politicians hink only of the immediate future

Appalling to hear about out of date vaccines being wasted though, but sadly not surprising

@Puzzledandpissedoff

A poster on the previous thread mentioned that they don't understand is how this doesn't break international law, but frankly I doubt this would bother German politicians. It's only recently that they lost their top spot in the "number of breaches of EU law list" - to Spain I believe - and after all it's self-interested politicians rather than lawyers who'll decide this

It's all very well saying we could pursue it legally, but that could take an awfully long time and politicians hink only of the immediate future

Appalling to hear about out of date vaccines being wasted though, but sadly not surprising

Are they wasted? Really so very bad of out of date already

Not that it’s a failing of vaccine

More I cannot get head around not using vaccines when it’s someone’s health / life potentially on other end

Are they wasted? Really so very bad of out of date already

I hadn't heard about it myself Marsha, but that's what a PP said on the last thread. Apparently AZ has a 6 month shelf life, and if they've stockpiled them since September it sounds about right

I had to smile about Italy "losing" 250k doses though; given that it's Italy, who could teach most a thing or two about corruption, they've probably been sold to the highest bidder

i keep thinking bojo's approach of being friends and helping each other is better

Easter, yesterday I might have agreed with you that we could share with the EU as a gesture of goodwill. I'm rapidly changing my mind. Because of the way the EU is conducting itself, and because it seems even when they have vaccines at their disposal, they aren't using them effectively.

@UserEleventyNine

i keep thinking bojo's approach of being friends and helping each other is better

Easter, yesterday I might have agreed with you that we could share with the EU as a gesture of goodwill. I'm rapidly changing my mind. Because of the way the EU is conducting itself, and because it seems even when they have vaccines at their disposal, they aren't using them effectively.

The EU ready rejected idea of sharing halix stock so that ideas dead.. They want uk supplier to ship az to Europe. I thought our moderna was coming from Switzerland then bottled at Spain but his article says USA but haven't EU claimed US has an export ban? If the 29million in Italy were mostly covax then that's even lower than stealing from uk.. Same with Mexico they a less affluent country. Europe selfishness will have repercussions on so many countries.

I feel sure they will attack janson next as they already talking about delivering less.

www.openaccessgovernment.org/vaccines-made-for-uk/106800/

I feel astrazeneca now need come out and speak publicly they been very quiet lately.

@UserEleventyNine

i keep thinking bojo's approach of being friends and helping each other is better

Easter, yesterday I might have agreed with you that we could share with the EU as a gesture of goodwill. I'm rapidly changing my mind. Because of the way the EU is conducting itself, and because it seems even when they have vaccines at their disposal, they aren't using them effectively.

I feel that one of them should be the adult and back down a bit, if not the war is going to start (not a ww3 but in medicines) if we block sending ingredients (I know that bojo has said no but... how long will he put up with not being given what we've paid for) then goodbye moderna, pfizer for everyone, would this really benefit the UK?

Its made sky and BBC news now

They claim not an export ban
Also Implies countries which more successful vaccination programme will have shipment denied.

news.sky.com/story/eu-calls-for-tougher-vaccine-export-controls-to-ensure-more-supplies-for-the-blocs-citizens-12255152

So (according to the original Italian article) the Italian authorities just discovered that Astrazeneca was hiding 29 million doses to export them to the UK, but never applied for an export permit or let the EU even know these doses existed.

If they were to go out of date (it is not very clear to me how old they actually are) surely the one at fault would be AZ and not the EU?

The BioNTech Marburg plant apparently only sources ingredients from within the EU and it's set to produce more than the 200m dosis scheduled for the EU for Q2.

I'd love to know if Boris knew about those hidden doses. It could have influenced the UK govs apparent confidence in the rollout.

Politico has released more details on the proposed legislation www.politico.eu/article/commission-proposes-six-week-vaccine-export-ban-amid-fears-of-trade-war/

[quote 3asAbird]Its made sky and BBC news now

They claim not an export ban
Also Implies countries which more successful vaccination programme will have shipment denied.

news.sky.com/story/eu-calls-for-tougher-vaccine-export-controls-to-ensure-more-supplies-for-the-blocs-citizens-12255152[/quote]
I haven’t read it but heard about the more successful being denied this morning

That is very bad for U.K.

Does it include Moderna? Will read later

It's completely unethical to block vaccine shipments that legally belong to the UK just because the UK vaccine programme has been more successful than the EU. The UK government cannot just suck that up and hope to retain any credibility in a post Brexit UK.
It's time that both the UK government and AZ made very public statements about the agreements made legally and the fact that the UK (and companies based here) have exported components and vaccines as agreed.

Article from Feb, but
veryilluminating re the detail of the different legal contracts . UK's was using British Law, EUs was using Belgian Law. Hence the EU's issues I assume. They have got no one to blame but themselves. www.politico.eu/article/the-key-differences-between-the-eu-and-uk-astrazeneca-contracts/amp/?__twitter_impression=true&s=09