Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[NilSatisOptimum]

Wrong type of data, nasty sounding foreigners innit!

https://www.pei.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/newsroom-en/hp-news/faq-temporary-suspension-astrazeneca.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=5

 

[SussexToffee]

EU hints it could block vaccine exports to UK

Major developments from the European Commission now, as president Ursula von der Leyen hints very strongly that the EU could block vaccine exports to the UK.

Here are the relevant comments:

"Open roads run in both directions and this is why we need to ensure that there is reciprocity and proportionality

"I want to be clear on reciprocity. If the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine-producing countries dependent on their level of openness.

"We are exporting a lot to countries that are themselves producing vaccines and we think this is an invitation to be open, so we also see exports from them coming back to the European Union.

"The second point that is of importance for us, we will reflect on whether exports to countries who have higher vaccination rates than us are still proportionate."

She adds that the EU is "ready to use whatever tool we need to deliver on that".

"This about making sure Europe gets its fair share," she warns.

More on this as we get it...

Von der Leyen comments directly on UK

"Where the UK's concerned, indeed we have observed that in the last six weeks 10 million doses by now have been exported to the UK," the European Commission president continues.

"It is country number one where exports from the European Union is concerned and indeed, the United Kingdom is producing AstraZeneca."

She says that the AstraZeneca contract refers to two production sites in the UK "for deliveries to the EU".

"We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union," she adds.

These remarks now making it very clear who the previous threats were being directed at.

Thank God we have our own vaccine nobody here is scared to take, maybe except Dave.

 

[BlueToff]

The general point is I don't care as outlined. As in what other wealthy countries decide what vaccine to pursue, data or not. Let them got on with it its their sovereign business.

There are other countries not fortunate as us or them who will happily have the AZ vaccine. If this pause leaves over supply in system, make sure COVAX program gets them, Then shout loud and proud.

Rather engaging in finger wagging negativity, which is like telling one of the most obese countries in world (UK) that all the data in world says its a bad thing, really!

If Germany, France and Netherlands etc aren't gonna use the AZ vaccines they have, then yes, get them sent to COVAX.

But that's not, right now, the UK's 'sovereign business'.

The UK is using all the AZ jabs it can get its hands on, and the Pfizer ones and the Moderna ones.

I hope that once we're in a stronger position we then start sending any surplus straight to COVAX too.

 

[SussexToffee]

Europe charts course for summer travel

The European Union has announced a plan to set up a travel certificate to help restore freedom of movement within the bloc for citizens inoculated against the coronavirus.

www.rte.ie

Good news for the EU, I don’t think this will apply to the U.K. though, unless it joins the ETA which is unlikely, or implements some sort of deal.

 

[BlueToff]

Flagged this last week, this was always going to happen, not surprised in the least. You cant have exports going one way and not the other. The EU was always going to ban exports reciprocally as the UK and USA have done officially or unofficially.

Terrible it has come to this and hopefully all saber rattling and a partnership can be found.

Not being funny Neiler, but what are they blocking - exports of the AZ?

They aren't even using the AZ. Nearly half of the doses EU nations have had so far have been unnused and now three or four of the major countries in the EU have currently got it suspended?

It's really coming across as a face-saving thing now. Why stock up on a vaccine they're not planning to use, and in the meantime, potentially cost 1000s of lives in the UK or prevent the UK getting out of lockdown sooner?

It's a disgrace. An absolute disgrace.

Edit: I agree that it has to work both ways, but that hasn't been the issue, has it? The issue has been AZ having problems with their plants in the EU, and still producing lots of vaccines, which a huge chunk of haven't actually been used.

The EU has a surplus of what, approx 10m AZ doses right now as it stands going unused and just sitting there waiting? And she's fussing about blocking MORE of this vaccine that they AREN'T using to another country?

She's off her head.

 

[BlueToff]

Really is starting to look bad for the EU. Heres just a thought but maybe they should stop playing politics and try to actually use the millions of unused doses that they currently have.

Or, if they aren't getting used, send them to COVAX.

 

[COYBL25]

Good news for the EU, I don’t think this will apply to the U.K. though, unless it joins the ETA which is unlikely, or implements some sort of deal.

There`ll be something similar here, but it won`t be called a " pass " or a " passport ", due to the government already saying there won`t be one in the UK.

It`ll be some kind of form, that`ll prove you`ve been vaccinated or had a very recent negative test, that allows you to avoid having to jump through the current hoops before getting on a plane and travelling abroad.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Wrong type of data, nasty sounding foreigners innit!

https://www.pei.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/newsroom-en/hp-news/faq-temporary-suspension-astrazeneca.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=5

For clarity, that exactly the data I used in my earlier point.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

For clarity, that exactly the data I used in my earlier point.

Clinically very young to be having cerebral thrombosis all 20-50.

 

[Billy Dean]

Not being funny Neiler, but what are they blocking - exports of the AZ?

They aren't even using the AZ. Nearly half of the doses EU nations have had so far have been unnused and now three or four of the major countries in the EU have currently got it suspended?

It's really coming across as a face-saving thing now. Why stock up on a vaccine they're not planning to use, and in the meantime, potentially cost 1000s of lives in the UK or prevent the UK getting out of lockdown sooner?

It's a disgrace. An absolute disgrace.

Edit: I agree that it has to work both ways, but that hasn't been the issue, has it? The issue has been AZ having problems with their plants in the EU, and still producing lots of vaccines, which a huge chunk of haven't actually been used.

The EU has a surplus of what, approx 10m AZ doses right now as it stands going unused and just sitting there waiting? And she's fussing about blocking MORE of this vaccine that they AREN'T using to another country?

She's off her head.

Some EU countries are still using AZ made. This thing is not being reported well. It wasn’t “The EU” that suspended AZ but individual countries, some of them not even in the EU.

but I’m not sure what the EU are blocking. I guess Pfizer but not sure.

 

[SussexToffee]

If Ursula Van Leylen blocks export of BioNtech to the U.K., we will simply ramp up our production line of the AZ.

 

[Billy Dean]

Clinically very young to be having cerebral thrombosis all 20-50.

Another thing not being well reported. Seems the English press is talking generally about clotting and not this specific type.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Another thing not being well reported. Seems the English press is talking generally about clotting and not this specific type.

Spoil sport... Wanted to see how far the "enlightened" had fallen down the wabbit hole of English nationalism. Think they are just angry that we have hairdressers open and they don't.

 

[Neiler]

Not being funny Neiler, but what are they blocking - exports of the AZ?

They aren't even using the AZ. Nearly half of the doses EU nations have had so far have been unnused and now three or four of the major countries in the EU have currently got it suspended?

It's really coming across as a face-saving thing now. Why stock up on a vaccine they're not planning to use, and in the meantime, potentially cost 1000s of lives in the UK or prevent the UK getting out of lockdown sooner?

It's a disgrace. An absolute disgrace.

Edit: I agree that it has to work both ways, but that hasn't been the issue, has it? The issue has been AZ having problems with their plants in the EU, and still producing lots of vaccines, which a huge chunk of haven't actually been used.

The EU has a surplus of what, approx 10m AZ doses right now as it stands going unused and just sitting there waiting? And she's fussing about blocking MORE of this vaccine that they AREN'T using to another country?

She's off her head.

The issue as i understand it is this mate.

Both the Uk and EU have contracts with AZ. The contracts are similar, both based on best efforts and the EU one was actually signed the day before the UK one. The contracts mention the supply chain for both countries as plants in Belgium, Netherlands and two in the UK. Both the UK and the EU paid for the development & manufacturing etc of all four plants.

My understanding of the issue is the EU's order has been left short by 70% by AZ, who arent exporting from the UK plants - the inference is an export ban by the UK government. The UK's order has been fulfilled 100%.

10 mill doses of vaccines have left EU plants for the UK. 0 vaccines have been exported by the UK.

Essentially what the EU is inferring is that the UK has a defacto ban on vaccine exports, keeping what is produced in the UK to ensure their order is met. What the EU has inferred today is if the UK continue to do this, then they will respond in kind and stop all vaccine exports until their orders are met.

The same thing but more overt is happening with the USA, they have no problem acknowledging it though, but they are less reliant on EU plants.

To me and the bit ive done looking into this, the fault could be AZ's, seems they entered a duplicitous contract arrangement with the EU and UK, the bind is AZ and UK have been happy to collude on exports, each hiding behind the other unofficially.

As for the surplus, i dont realistically think there is one, Pete posted figures on it yesterday and i showed him that the over hang of unused vaccines matched almost equally the number who received a first dose, defacto they are stored second doses - most EU nations wont give a first dose unless they have the second dose.

 

[Neiler]

Good news for the EU, I don’t think this will apply to the U.K. though, unless it joins the ETA which is unlikely, or implements some sort of deal.

I read something on it being open to non EU countries, but with extra non EU conditions and additional public health precautions - was a bit fuzzy though.