Coronavirus (2021) thread

[AlgarveBlu]

So the EU are reported to be warning Pfizer again. This might be legitimate. However, I struggle to believe so when several countries in mainland Europe have big stockpiles of AZ /Oxford vaccines and Pfizer escape any censure, even though Germany contributed to the development of the BioNtech jab.

I hope the vaccine roll out programmes in the rest of Europe (and across the globe) are accelerated and the populations get the protection they need.

Nobody doubts the EU have had an epic fail in the whole vaccine saga from the very beginning but we should be careful not to echo too many daily mail/express headlines and misusing the word stockpiles - in Portugal their stockpile is literally enough to cover the second dose for the over 80s that have had their first jab and high risk which is on the 3 week regime other lower risk categories are on 6 weeks on the basis of future deliveries coming in on time

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Nobody doubts the EU have had an epic fail in the whole vaccine saga from the very beginning but we should be careful not to echo too many daily mail/express headlines and misusing the word stockpiles - in Portugal their stockpile is literally enough to cover the second dose for the over 80s that have had their first jab and high risk which is on the 3 week regime other lower risk categories are on 6 weeks on the basis of future deliveries coming in on time

I got most of my information from a mate in the Netherlands who probably hadn’t heard of the Mail or the Express. He’s a reasonable guy who works in social care. That said, it’s pretty evident that there is a level of discrimination and bullying against AZ that goes beyond quantities of vaccines delivered.

We aren’t getting through this until most of Europe and probably the world are vaccinated so I would like to see vaccine supplies ramped up.

 

[worsleyweb]

I am anti Eu and glad we left but once we have done our over 50s I would have no issue sharing our vaccines even if their incompetence has caused it. A healthy 30 year old getting a vaccine here if a 70 year old Italian is still waiting is wrong.

 

[Gabriel]

If people are not being vaccinated then stockpiling is still going on mate, although the quantities are relatively low. There would be more pressure on the vaccine suppliers if the stocks had run dry, iMHO. Hopefully, availability of vaccines can be ramped up soon but it’s essential there is regulatory approval in the Countries that have put the block on the AZ vaccine and gone against the EMA.

it would be good to her from the EU about efforts to get bigger supplies from Pfizer too. Maybe that’s happening but we just aren’t hearing about it.

Spoken to quite a few doctors and there's no problem with demand, simply supplies of the vaccines. Some will be held to guarantee the second dose, but what's coming in is going in arms.

The Sanofi production of the Pfizer vaccine will help, but that will not be arriving until the summer.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I am anti Eu and glad we left but once we have done our over 50s I would have no issue sharing our vaccines even if their incompetence has caused it. A healthy 30 year old getting a vaccine here if a 70 year old Italian is still waiting.

Yes I agree with sharing the vaccines more once the over 50s and clinically vulnerable are vaccinated. There also needs to be pressure applied on the States to do likewise.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

I am anti Eu and glad we left but once we have done our over 50s I would have no issue sharing our vaccines even if their incompetence has caused it. A healthy 30 year old getting a vaccine here if a 70 year old Italian is still waiting.

both doses i assume? I feel the same, once everyone over 50 plus the vulnerable are vaccinated with both doses we should be sharing with Europe as much as possible.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Spoken to quite a few doctors and there's no problem with demand, simply supplies of the vaccines. Some will be held to guarantee the second dose, but what's coming in is going in arms.

The Sanofi production of the Pfizer vaccine will help, but that will not be arriving until the summer.

I agree the problem is with supply. That becomes a bit irrelevant in relation to the AZ vaccine if a Country bans it. I know the ideal position would be to boost stocks in advance of regulatory clearance but that’s not been happening because the U.K. contract gives priority and AZ can see the vaccines will get used here.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

All about keeping the companies on their toes, presumably.

There does seem to be a belief amongst politicians that shouting louder at companies, police raids on their premises and the like is the pressure required to get them off their fat arses and make more vaccines.

The reality, on the other hand, is that these people have been working flat out for 12 months to scale up this production in a way never thought to be remotely possible before.

Nobody who has the slightest passing knowledge of the subject is at all surprised that there have been some problems with supply. Indeed, it's little short of a miracle that Pfizer and AZ, and Moderna to a lesser extent, have delivered what they already have to UK and EU.

 

[inbetween]

I agree the problem is with supply. That becomes a bit irrelevant in relation to the AZ vaccine if a Country bans it. I know the ideal position would be to boost stocks in advance of regulatory clearance but that’s not been happening because the U.K. contract gives priority and AZ can see the vaccines will get used here.

The interesting thing on Europe is the US are due to start to receive their AZ orders in April, will the EU ban the export of those too? If so then I can see that really kicking off because it will put a thorn in Bidens plan for 100% vaccination by the end of May.

Either way, when you look at the graph below you can see why there are supply issues. The AZ vaccine is the hottest ticket in town.

 

[Gabriel]

I agree the problem is with supply. That becomes a bit irrelevant in relation to the AZ vaccine if a Country bans it. I know the ideal position would be to boost stocks in advance of regulatory clearance but that’s not been happening because the U.K. contract gives priority and AZ can see the vaccines will get used here.

Certain EU countries briefly placed moratoria on its use, but the overwhelming majority, including those with the largest populations, have subsequently resumed its use.