Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Chris O'Connor]

I see a further twist to this vaccine slowdown in April. Reports indicated it was a result of some vaccines 'shipped' from India not being supplied as quickly as they'd hoped.

However the Indian government denied any embargo for internal reasons, but their huge country is struggling for enough vaccine supplies and is understandably concerned that Indian producers can make enough for the home market. With production levels down exports may have to be slowed.

The head of the major producer there has however put a large part of the fault on Britain being unfortunate to be caught in the crossfire of materials nationalism from the Biden administration.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute said the decision had been made “solely” by the Indian government, which he claimed was temporarily holding exports to combat a domestic surge in cases.

Mr Poonawalla accused Mr Biden of “raw materials nationalism” after the president last month signed the Defence Production Act, a Korean War-era piece of legislation allowing exports to be blocked from leaving the US in national emergencies. Any shortfall in vital ingredients slows vaccinep production which slows exports.

The EU isn't the only one with a penchant for vaccine nationalism as the current US administration shows.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

The Uk scientists for genome sequencing are world-leading. The Oxford AZ vaccine is the best solution for a global programme as developing nations lack the required cold chain facility for mRNA. The UK scientific community identified the benefit of the extended vaccination programme, of supportive treatments etc. SAGE advise the government decides.

Specification is Whitty (SAGE) According to this report, Whitty has advised the government from day one not to close the borders, because the virus was already here and it was pointless.

Revealed: how Chris Whitty's early advice set the template to keep UK's borders open during Covid crisis

Policy hinged on a Cabinet meeting where Chief Medical Officer said there was no point closing the borders because “it’s already here”

www.telegraph.co.uk

We have to appreciate its a pure Tory rag and accuracy and truth is low on the agenda, however, it is very clear on the matter. And seemingly the government blindly followed the advice. Be of no doubt hundreds if not thousands of infected people have been let in and we seem to still be finding new strains from abroad even over the last couple of days...

COVID-19: New Philippines-linked coronavirus variant investigated in England after two cases found

The P3 variant has come from the Philippines, which currently has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in South East Asia.

news.sky.com

Personally I think leaving the borders wide open with zero Covid controls for the best part of a year, is as bad as the PPE or procrastinating of our lockdowns Schools are safe nonsense or the we are too liberal for face mask debate. All equal in allowing the virus to spread and mutate unabated. If we locked down the borders I suspect locking down the country would have been more effective too. Indeed, I'm only guessing with the logic of common sense I was born with.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Interesting all this talk of Pfizer telling the EU about ingredients from Yorkshire.

Indian drugmaker says U.S. is hoarding vaccine ingredients ...​

www.marketplace.org › 2021/03/09 › indian-drugmake...


Seems like the US is withholding ingredients to India for the making of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Vaccine trade wars.

Indian vaccine makers decry US use of wartime powers to ...​

www.ft.com › content

Good news for China and Russia, again!

 

[ramacca]

Specification is Whitty (SAGE) According to this report, Whitty has advised the government from day one not to close the borders, because the virus was already here and it was pointless.

Revealed: how Chris Whitty's early advice set the template to keep UK's borders open during Covid crisis

Policy hinged on a Cabinet meeting where Chief Medical Officer said there was no point closing the borders because “it’s already here”

www.telegraph.co.uk

We have to appreciate its a pure Tory rag and accuracy and truth is low on the agenda, however, it is very clear on the matter. And seemingly the government blindly followed the advice. Be of no doubt hundreds if not thousands of infected people have been let in and we seem to still be finding new strains from abroad even over the last couple of days...

COVID-19: New Philippines-linked coronavirus variant investigated in England after two cases found

The P3 variant has come from the Philippines, which currently has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in South East Asia.

news.sky.com

Personally I think leaving the borders wide open with zero Covid controls for the best part of a year, is as bad as the PPE or procrastinating of our lockdowns Schools are safe nonsense or the we are too liberal for face mask debate. All equal in allowing the virus to spread and mutate unabated. If we locked down the borders I suspect locking down the country would have been more effective too. Indeed, I'm only guessing with the logic of common sense I was born with.

Absolute lunacy to say travel wouldn't stop the spread of a virus. Whitty also was peddling the theory that because we are rich we wouldn't have any epidemics. From 5.40ish on this video for travel and epidemic..

Prof Chris Whitty: How to Control a Pandemic - YouTube​

www.youtube.com › watch

I wonder why the Telegraph are now talking about this from Whitty?

 

[Neiler]

Now Pfizer afraid they'll be a casualty of the EU's vaccine wars

Pfizer has warned the EU to back down from its threats on vaccine exports to the UK because the firm needs crucial ingredients shipped from Yorkshire.

Pfizer and BioNTech have told Brussels that the UK has the power to retaliate against any export ban by withholding raw materials needed for its jab.

Croda International, a Yorkshire firm has been delivering vital "fatty molecules" to Pfizer's factories in the EU since signing a five-year contract with the firm in November. Britain hasn't so far banned any exports from the firm to supply Pfizer's production plants in Belgium preferring to not hinder the fight against Covid.

Pfizer and BioNtech are understood to have warned EU leaders that production at the main vaccine factory in Belgium could "grind to a halt" within weeks if the UK moved to prevent deliveries from crossing the Channel.

Ursula Von Stalin has threatened to cut Britain off saying they've exported no 'complete' vaccines. Any exports of crucial ingredients exported hasn't been mentioned or conveniently ignored as it might be seen to water down her politically motivated anger.

As i said last night there is literally an A-Z of similar compaines in Europe who do the same thing. The Telegraph really is a Tory mouthpiece.

Our members

Explore IPEC Europe's member companies spanning the entire pharmaceutical excipient value chain — from producers to distributors to pharma makers.

www.ipec-europe.org

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Absolute lunacy to say travel wouldn't stop the spread of a virus. Whitty also was peddling the theory that because we are rich we wouldn't have any epidemics. From 5.40ish on this video for travel and epidemic..

Prof Chris Whitty: How to Control a Pandemic - YouTube​

www.youtube.com › watch

I wonder why the Telegraph are now talking about this from Whitty?

Must be a deepfake!

 

[Chris O'Connor]

As i said last night there is literally an A-Z of similar compaines in Europe who do the same thing. The Telegraph really is a Tory mouthpiece.

Our members

Explore IPEC Europe's member companies spanning the entire pharmaceutical excipient value chain — from producers to distributors to pharma makers.

www.ipec-europe.org

I'm sure there are but it's countries or organisations that are threatening vaccine nationalism that are the menace. Threats to seize privately owned assets and run roughshod over companies rights aren't the way to fight this pandemic. Export bans won't help limit the viruses spread.

Organisations shouldn't be trying to undermine companies who have been trying to develop vaccines, on a not for profit basis too, they're the good guy's not the villians.

This nationalistic posturing from European leaders has been largely for political reasons they have to be seen to be responding to their populations natural frustrations. They've been pathetic and childish but unfortunately this sort of stuff spreads once one organisation gets a liking for it. Nationalism and protectionism are largely abhorrent when it comes to fighting a pandemic but I fear they're part of the EU closed market mentality.

 

[Tubey]

More protests in London today. What happens when you muddy the water and try to sanction one.

The answer is the same - tear gas them. Send the message it's not allowed and this is what will happen.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

More protests in London today. What happens when you muddy the water and try to sanction one.

The answer is the same - tear gas them. Send the message it's not allowed and this is what will happen.

Agree,

But come August, if restrictions remain - I'd be joining them lol

 

[Neiler]

I'm sure there are but it's countries or organisations that are threatening vaccine nationalism that are the menace. Threats to seize privately owned assets and run roughshod over companies rights aren't the way to fight this pandemic. Export bans won't help limit the viruses spread.

Organisations shouldn't be trying to undermine companies who have been trying to develop vaccines, on a not for profit basis too, they're the good guy's not the villians.

This nationalistic posturing from European leaders has been largely for political reasons they have to be seen to be responding to their populations natural frustrations. They've been pathetic and childish but unfortunately this sort of stuff spreads once one organisation gets a liking for it. Nationalism and protectionism are largely abhorrent when it comes to fighting a pandemic but I fear they're part of the EU closed market mentality.

Its a really silly article mate, im not surprised its in the Telegraph, its so misinformative and stirs up jingoism.

Ill let you in on a secret, Croda has plants in France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Overall the disagreement is what you believe the EU is doing, is what the EU beleive the UK is doing. In a nutshell thats the difficulty.

 

[Tubey]

Agree,

But come August, if restrictions remain - I'd be joining them lol

Same when there's actually no reason for lockdowns with deaths. As you say, July-September, no need, no justification.

For now though, anyone doing so is just an attention seeking bell looking for something to do.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

More protests in London today. What happens when you muddy the water and try to sanction one.

The answer is the same - tear gas them. Send the message it's not allowed and this is what will happen.

Not just that but find the identity of as many there as you can and impose 10k fines and if they dont leave when asked automatic jail sentence and when we are all back out of lockdown they are behind bars.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Same when there's actually no reason for lockdowns with deaths. As you say, July-September, no need, no justification.

For now though, anyone doing so is just an attention seeking bell looking for something to do.

Indeed. Different tolerance levels isn't it?

Suspect that can be influenced depending on if you've lost your job/business/home etc.

We're not far off now even the most level headed/patient thinking "ffs". For me - I'm 3 months off from supporting protests. June-August.

Fortunately that's after when they've said - 21st June.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Whats going on with the Novavax vaccine? With this slow down in April would have been ideal having another UK based manufactored vaccine ready to go

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Its a really silly article mate, im not surprised its in the Telegraph, its so misinformative and stirs up jingoism.

Ill let you in on a secret, Croda has plants in France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Overall the disagreement is what you believe the EU is doing, is what the EU beleive the UK is doing. In a nutshell thats the difficulty.

Every paper is biased and promotes its own agenda. there isn't one paper in the UK that's not right or left wing they'll all promote stories that suit their editorial line. I read the Guardian every single day and find that's ridiculously biased but in exactly the opposite direction. You just don't have an unbiased press in this country.

I decide my own views but will copy were if it means getting names correct and the sequence right. There's no point in reinventing the wheel and on the vaccinations issue I think there's no getting away from the fact the EU leadership need a scapegoat.