Coronavirus (2021) thread

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

The Telegraph leading with the story that the EU is threatening to block the export of the Pfizer vaccine to non EU countries (the UK) from the Belgian factory using the same mechanism they used to block exports of PPE last year.

This could get very nasty.

 

[twosips]

It is not news IMO. It's politically motivated gossip.

There's no way I'd be sharing this with an unsuspecting vulnerable person until it is clarified.

The science on immune response in older people on the AZ jab is that it is very strong - actually better relatively than the others in that immune response was just as good in over 70s as younger subjects.

Here's the figure (from the Lancet):

What does concentration represent?

 

[cleavers]

That's all very factual and scientific BUT a bloke on Twitter has tweeted that a German newspaper is running a story that Oxford/AZ is shite.

Did you miss "second rate" before German newspaper ?

 

[Gabriel]

I don’t really think any of the EU countries have a right to complain just yet as they’ve not even passed the vaccine as fit to use.
Perhaps when they have given the go ahead they then have the right to complain about the speed of rollout.

I think they will have a right to be upset, because even if the EMA authorised it tonight, AZ has already told the EU and the other European countries that it simply won’t be able to supply. I reckon we’re going to hear similar caterwauling from most countries in the next three to four months.

 

[squirtyflower]

The Telegraph leading with the story that the EU is threatening to block the export of the Pfizer vaccine to non EU countries (the UK) from the Belgian factory using the same mechanism they used to block exports of PPE last year.

This could get very nasty.

It could get very interesting.

 

[worsleyweb]

I think they will have a right to be upset, because even if the EMA authorised it tonight, AZ has already told the EU and the other European countries that it simply won’t be able to supply. I reckon we’re going to hear similar caterwauling from most countries in the next three to four months.

the Eu were only prepared to pay if it was signed off. England put money up front. Simple as that.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

The Telegraph leading with the story that the EU is threatening to block the export of the Pfizer vaccine to non EU countries (the UK) from the Belgian factory using the same mechanism they used to block exports of PPE last year.

This could get very nasty.

TBF the Telegraph running a story about how awful the EU are is about as unexpected, and about as believable as the Express's latest on Diana.

In all seriousness, it also just underlines how cooperation on vaccines, and indeed everything else globally is essential to solve this. Nationalism can't beat covid.

 

[squirtyflower]

TBF the Telegraph running a story about how awful the EU are is about as unexpected, and about as believable as the Express's latest on Diana.

In all seriousness, it also just underlines how cooperation on vaccines, and indeed everything else globally is essential to solve this. Nationalism can't beat covid.

The BBC ran the same story on Saturday.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

the Eu were only prepared to pay if it was signed off. England put money up front. Simple as that.

Except it isn't simple, is it?

Because if it kicks off not only will public confidence in vaccines take a possibly fatal knock, but the EU has the means to control the supply chain if they choose. And of course, we need covid to be beaten in the EU too.

Making this a fight with the EU will be a disaster for everyone.

 

[worsleyweb]

Except it isn't simple, is it?

Because if it kicks off not only will public confidence in vaccines take a possibly fatal knock, but the EU has the means to control the supply chain if they choose. And of course, we need covid to be beaten in the EU too.

Making this a fight with the EU will be a disaster for everyone.

who needs friends like that hey?

 

[squirtyflower]

Except it isn't simple, is it?

Because if it kicks off not only will public confidence in vaccines take a possibly fatal knock, but the EU has the means to control the supply chain if they choose. And of course, we need covid to be beaten in the EU too.

Making this a fight with the EU will be a disaster for everyone.

But doesn’t it look like it’s the EU causing the ‘fight’ as they’re not getting their own way?
Despite maybe not even wanting the vaccine anyhow?

After all I can’t see the UK named in any of the tweets or news articles.

 

[cleavers]

Making this a fight with the EU will be a disaster for everyone.

Looks more like they are making it a fight not us, but you're correct any "fight" here is bad for everyone everywhere.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

What does concentration represent?

Antibody levels, AU= arbitrary units.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32466-1/fulltext

 

[roubaixtuesday]

But doesn’t it look like it’s the EU causing the ‘fight’ as they’re not getting their own way?
Despite maybe not even wanting the vaccine anyhow?

After all I can’t see the UK named in any of the tweets or news articles.

Seems to be German rather than EU, and I don't understand the exact motivation.

I'm just saying that it's bad on all levels, and that includes for us.

 

[cleavers]

who needs friends like that hey?

The far bigger point here is the knock in the public's confidence in the vaccines, especially if suddenly the only one we can get is the Oxford/AZ.

 

[SB Blue]

I wonder if the people in Oxford got the Eccles jab? It’s been known to knockout plenty of things in the past.

No, they got Eccles Cakes instead

 

[roubaixtuesday]

who needs friends like that hey?

We do. In case you hadn't noticed, all the major vaccine supply comes from them!

 

[squirtyflower]

Seems to be German rather than EU, and I don't understand the exact motivation.

I'm just saying that it's bad on all levels, and that includes for us.

I agree that it could be bad for us but despite your implication that we have caused this fight, the UK has done absolutely nothing wrong here and it seems like the EU/Germany have started to throw their weight around because they’re not getting what they want from an American company.

 

[worsleyweb]

We do. In case you hadn't noticed, all the major vaccine supply comes from them!

yes I know that. Nice of them to blackmail us.

 

[worsleyweb]

The far bigger point here is the knock in the public's confidence in the vaccines, especially if suddenly the only one we can get is the Oxford/AZ.

indeed - hope it is put to bed quickly tommorow