Coronavirus (2021) thread

[Churchlawtonblue]

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.

First come first served. Thats usually the way things work in any civil society. You cant just expect to just bully your way to the front of the queue just because you are a big customer.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Wonderful thread.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

I don't claim to know what's going on here.

The only thing I do know is that leak to the German press is reprehensible, and we need to agree with the EU a way forward acceptable to everyone.

Otherwise we're all screwed.

We dont need to agree a way forward with the EU at all, we have to just follow the order of contracts placed and the rule of law. That is it!

 

[Tim of the Oak]

We dont need to agree a way forward with the EU at all, we have to just follow the order of contracts placed and the rule of law. That is it!

So what about the EU’s contracts with AZ then? Does your rule of law argument apply to Holland, Germany and Belgium? The best case would be for AZ to meet all their commitments but that seems unlikely.

It’s a good job most of our AZ supplies are made here.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

My google-fu has improved a little, it appears.

The AZ vaccine is made in Oxford (not sure where) and Staffordshire (by a biologics company called Cobra).
Wockhardt in Wrexham is fill/finish, not production.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

So what about the EU’s contracts with AZ then? Does your rule of law argument apply to Holland, Germany and Belgium? The best case would be for AZ to meet all their commitments but that seems unlikely.

It’s a good job most of our AZ supplies are made here.

Its who has placed the orders first and who has approved its use.

I understood that India will be making most of the AZ vaccine in future.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

So what about the EU’s contracts with AZ then? Does your rule of law argument apply to Holland, Germany and Belgium? The best case would be for AZ to meet all their commitments but that seems unlikely.

It’s a good job most of our AZ supplies are made here.

I agree with that - AZ may not be able to say "one contract before the other", as that would have to be worded into the contracts at the outset (and then there would be less strength to any opinion).

I can certainly see that the EU have no real option but to ask "if you've reduced production, have you reduced supply evenly to all of your recipients, or just to us?"
That question seems perfectly reasonable to pose.

What happens afterwards is more unclear. My understanding is that the current position is that the EU may ask for details of where EU-made vaccine has been sent, and nothing more.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Its who has placed the orders first and who has approved its use.

I understood that India will be making most of the AZ vaccine in future.

The rule of law isn’t dependant on when a vaccine was approved. Has Tesco’s bought its produce from farmers etc. until they’ve stocked their shelves and fridges?

The EU have only said they are looking at which vaccines are being expected to which countries so vaccine nationalism is t adding any vale at this time.

 

[Bluemoon dan]

There's something that has been bugging me about the vaccines for the past couple of weeks and that's basically how did we end up with so many types? At the start of the pandemic, and certainly in the first few months, the scientific community made great play of the fact they were all working together with one shared goal of finding a vaccine and saving the world. There was talk of collaboration across borders and sharing knowledge and breakthroughs. Companies talked of working together and sharing facilities etc. So how have we ended up with at least half a dozen different types of vaccine all hitting the market at different times, costing different amounts to produce and seemingly with different efficacy rates?
At what point did collaboration end and the cold hard reality of commercialism kick in?

 

[Gabriel]

Is it the case that AZ can produce enough within the UK to supply all of its needs at the required speed, or is it the case that AZ can supply the UK's needs but only at a slower pace? Zahawi initially sounded a little careful in connecting supply to the February target, but when asked about supply again, he sounded more confident. Time will tell.

Supply was always going to be a problem around the world, and until there's more joined-up thinking by all countries, we're going to have more such problems.