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/

Poland threw away millions of jabs because they went out of date before they could be used.

Unforgivable

@MRex

Personally I think this refusal to export vaccines at all will be sorted out. I'm angry though that they didn't set up earlier so there are more vaccines in the world to end this sooner. I'm angry at the time and effort they are wasting for so many critical response companies and governments (covax nations included) in risk analysing whatever the fuck the EU will do next, instead of improving the pandemic response. I'm angry at them trashing the reputations of pharmaceutical firms and creating vaccine take-up issues. I'm angry that they will lose European jobs over this in future, however hopeful that the UK will get some there will be net losses. I'm angry that they have increased Russia and China's influence through this idiocy. I think this crisis will be sorted out, but I also think a lot of damage has been done that can't be easily undone.

Well said.

The EU has caused real anger over the various ways in which they have mucked this up, because it has effects beyond their own borders.

I think they'll fudge something today that stops sort of a ban. But then again, I would never have believed how they would behave over Article 16...

I’m just so worried that the opening up dates will be delayed now.

The opening dates were confirmed as going ahead last night. The only aspect to this that is now really being questioned, is travel. The UK were I believe hoping to restart international travel, but may not be able to do so now.

It is a total own goal, as many countries heavily rely on tourism and yet how can the British government possibly agree to send millions of holidaymakers into an EU third wave. It is not a great result for anyone.

@nonono1

Poland threw away millions of jabs because they went out of date before they could be used.

Unforgivable

Did some googling and not sure this happened. There was some controversy over celebs getting jabs and they said they had short dated stock and it influenced vaccine hesitant poles to go for it.

Has anyone seen this from the BBC?

twitter.com/BBCRosAtkins/status/1374830047480184841

Apparently the problem is that the EU were just too naïve and trusting.

Looking at the epidemic curve this morning, you can clearly see from the modelling, Europe are now facing the situation we had at Christmas, and just about to enter a very choppy third wave, it would be irresponsible of any government to open travel corridors knowing what is coming in Europe.

The BBC really does need to be charging the EU tax payer going forward for their endless and flagrant EU promotion, why we are paying for this is beyond me. Perhaps they would like to relocate to Brussels as well.

I have got to stop following this story. I feel so angry with the EU, and so depressed.
I know this sounds terrible, but I devoutly wish for the collapse of the EU (not that it's going to happen). I thought that at least their reputation would be damaged, but, watching the BBC link above, the line is pro EU.

France and Italy are struggling.
France 16 regions in lockdown
Possibly upto 10% Brazilian / south African vareint as well as Brittany so varient anglaise is not their only worry .
Today euro news says Belgium back lockdown.
Germany confuses me how the announce a lockdown but now its not needed as people unhappy.
Cases rising and extra restrictions in Netherlands.
Italy high and only 9% vaccinated with 1st dose.
A few Eastern Europe countries struggling.
Spain allowing German tourists.

I really do feel for the citizens in these countries we been through it and we still in restrictions.

Boris talked about putting France in red zone will anger macron.

Its not responsible open up international travel if we do and next autumn winter is awful and the vaccines don't work then Boris is screwed.

3 It is annoying that so little of what happens in Poland is reported internationally. They had issues with storage for Pjizer and from the get go it was very challenging.
Fortunately Poland have managed to get their front line workers and teachers vaccinated, but most of the elderly are still unvaccinated. They have been given a rough guide of June at the very earliest in Krakow for instance. Some of whom have considerable known health problems that make them particularly vulnerable to covid. Not ideal, and Poland are now sourcing vaccines elsewhere.

Looking at the numbers in France etc I bloody hope UvdL and other European leaders act and vote sensibly today.

With one calm voice ALL of this stupidity could just stop!

Nobody wants any country to have more deaths and whilst all of this goes on Covax is still waiting...

Merkel announced the Easter lockdown, and backtracked and apologised, I believe due to the fact it is a religious holiday it went down very badly.

Another example of Merkel really not on form, famed for her pragmatism, caution and sensible decision making this is very far from what we have seen from the last few months.

The Polish situation is truly terrible. I was looking at the case numbers and deaths there last night, and the figures as we have them are scary enough. Sadly, we know that 30% of their tests are coming back positive, so the real rate is likely to be very, very much higher.

(Source: ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/poland)

@MaMaLa321

Has anyone seen this from the BBC?

twitter.com/BBCRosAtkins/status/1374830047480184841

Apparently the problem is that the EU were just too naïve and trusting.

That's a remarkable over-simplification where apparently contract law doesn't matter. Putting AZ aside, other vaccine manufacturers all expected to be able to service other contracts and resourced accordingly, the EU didn't add much extra investment and now wants to take advantage of everyone else's investment on top of their own small amount to make up the difference. They seemingly won't accept that delays and quality issues occur every day of the week and instead keep accusing companies of lying to them. They weren't being naive except insofar as they clearly don't understand what the pharmaceutical processes are, they were being penny-pinching. Changing the rules long after contracts are signed to steal company assets is not "naive" either. They could have paid more and got preferential access to doses based on investment, instead they wanted bargain basement prices with John Lewis customer service.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Looking at the numbers in France etc I bloody hope UvdL and other European leaders act and vote sensibly today.

With one calm voice ALL of this stupidity could just stop!

Nobody wants any country to have more deaths and whilst all of this goes on Covax is still waiting...

Macron is anti lockdown and seems to think he's a scientist.. Hes always has to be in control.

www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-superhero-president-france-election-2022/

The EU won’t collapse if it did it would be a disaster to us. uVDL needs to be sacked though, she is an absolute huge walking catastrophe waiting to happen but who would take her place?

Former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb would be a good replacement, a cordial and experienced leader that was in the running for the position before Germany got there way.

Replacing VDL with someone like Mr Stubb would go a long way in placating the members perhaps because increasingly skittish about the hold Germany (and to some extent France) now have on the commission.

*their way! Jeez school girl error.

There are 446 million people living in the EU. I'm sure they can rustle up someone. At least 90% of adults would be better than UvdL.

Quite mRex with the remit that all you need to do is tread lightly.

There are 446 million people living in the EU. I'm sure they can rustle up someone
There are only 350 million in the US and they managed two outstanding election candidates.

@MRex yes, agreed. They could also offer to buy the rights to use the intellectual property, to set up more production sites. Or, heck, let's go really sensible and suggest they could support the manufacturers in expanding production into more sites.

Either would be more likely to work and less likely to trash their reputations than simply lifting the patent and trying to get a totally different team to make it afresh.

Back to the BBC article quoting without challenge that the EU sent the UK 10m doses and the UK sent none. The EU has had about 47m Pfizer BioNTec doses and many more in manufacture. Can anyone say how many they would have had without the UK's Yorkshire ingredients? How about the Oxford Astrazeneca starter that was sent, how many doses would they have had without that?

@StarCat2020

There are 446 million people living in the EU. I'm sure they can rustle up someone There are only 350 million in the US and they managed two outstanding election candidates.

Urgh. Yes, I had a nasty feeling I'd used a large population to make a different yet similar point before. Biden's clearly a steadier hand than Trump though.