Coronavirus (2021) thread

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

It’s a bit concerning international politics is being played on vaccinating people. Should be a joined up effort by the entire planet not the better off Western countries squabbling with each other. Longer this virus goes unchecked in under developed countries the more chance of new variants happening that can reset everything back to zero on the vaccine front.

 

[lancs blue]

In layman’s terms, the EU have been slow to order and approve, are now refusing to pay until delivery guarantees have been made and are also threatening vaccine companies about deliveries to the UK until they get what they want?

Or is it big pharma signing contracts while knowing they don't have the capacity to deliver on all those contracts in the agreed time-frame?

 

[BlueAnorak]

I can only find mention of one AZ site (see link) being capable of producing 20 million per year, but perhaps there are other sites in the UK, too. However, given that these companies have had problems with their setups in Belgium and have had to slow production to make the necessary changes, then the same might apply in the UK if sites suddenly have to increase production. It could be that most of the UK supply has been made in the UK but that is why more is needed from the European-based plants.

https://careers.astrazeneca.com/united-kingdom

4 UK sites. Oxford x2, Keele and Wrexham.
A massive new facility comes online in Oxford later in the year.
3 sites at least in the EU. Netherlands x2 + Germany

 

[Ban-jani]

Or is it big pharma signing contracts while knowing they don't have the capacity to deliver on all those contracts in the agreed time-frame?

The EU haven’t approved it yet, have they? Seems to me they’re trying to throw their weight around and it’s a terrible look in a pandemic.

I just hope we can continue the manufacturing here at speed and ignore their posturing.

I am fairly sure AZ, and I haven’t been a fan of them in my personal career dealing with them, promised that they would even deliver to those who couldn’t afford it.

This isn’t a business transaction like a banking trade deal, this is lives at risk and the EU need to grow up.

 

[BlueAnorak]

If the EU play stupid buggers Nato defence cooperation treaties will be invoked. And if they ignore them I think we can say goodbye to Nato.
The reality is it's all bluster because EU vaccine delivery is a heap of shit.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Interesting, I think myself and most people would have no idea about just how difficult it is to convert production plants.
Think there were always going to be pauses and that is why late Feb/March are going to be difficult months for everyone, in all countries.

It's sort of the difference between a brewery and a custard powder factory, not quite ravens/writing desks.

A viral vaccine plant needs tightly controlled production vessels (which I doubt would be made to brewing vat size), then a whole load of feed and separation stages before and after, all of which has to be sealed and secure.

Production may be a PCR process, and that usually require a heat/cool cycle, so you need smallish production vessels.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

4 UK sites. Oxford x2, Keele and Wrexham.
A massive new facility comes online in Oxford later in the year.
3 sites at least in the EU. Netherlands x2 + Belgium

Keele is Cobra, Wrexham is a bottling plant only.

 

[JamesMCFC]

Are the EU honestly threatening to stop vaccines coming to the UK?

 

[lancs blue]

The EU haven’t approved it yet, have they? Seems to me they’re trying to throw their weight around and it’s a terrible look in a pandemic.

I just hope we can continue the manufacturing here at speed and ignore their posturing.

I am fairly sure AZ, and I haven’t been a fan of them in my personal career dealing with them, promised that they would even deliver to those who couldn’t afford it.

This isn’t a business transaction like a banking trade deal, this is lives at risk and the EU need to grow up.

It still seems to me that AZ and Pfizer have promised quantities of vaccine that they cannot produce in the agreed timescale. That's totally irresponsible in a pandemic and inevitably causes a lot of concern.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Are the EU honestly threatening to stop vaccines coming to the UK?

Der Spiegel is.