Great find, KipThe AZ chief Pascal Soriot gave an interesting interview today to Italy's La Repubblica.
"Mr Soriot said the EU had been "treated fairly," adding that Britain had a three-month “headstart” after agreeing a deal for 100 million doses in May, three months before the EU.
He revealed that British plants had among the best yield in the world after spending months perfecting the process, while EU factories had been left with the “lowest productivity in the network”.
Mr Soriot also signalled that doses manufactured in the UK would not be diverted to the Continent after EU leaders reportedly asked whether British vaccines could help make up the shortfall.
“The contract with the UK was signed first and the UK, of course, said ‘you supply us first’, and this is fair enough,” Mr Soriot told La Repubblica. “As soon as we can, we'll help the EU.”
He also says that the EU contract is made on a 'best efforts' basis so any threats of legal action will be unlikely to succeed.
It's not been a good day for the Commission, roundly condemned around the world for 'vaccine nationalism' with one Irish MEP calling the row 'unseemly' and urging the EU to 'de-escalate'.
Keep an eye out in the next few days for the EMA authorisation of the AZ vaccine and whether it's the only agency to restrict it to particular age groups. The last thing Europeans need is a health organisation that appears to bend to the will of politicians.
That is a VERY interesting read.Great find, Kip
More detailed interview with Soriot by La Repubblica below which gives an excellent insight into the whole business of vaccine production
Shows the U.K. Government, yes, THE U.K. GOVERNMENT, regulators, scientists and all those involved in U.K. production in a very good light
Pascal Soriot: "There are a lot of emotions on vaccines in EU. But it's complicated"
An exclusive interview with AstraZeneca's CEO on the accusations from Europe after the delay of Oxford vaccine supplies, some revealing details of the vacc…www.repubblica.it
If that’s aimed at me, I’m simply stating facts. I do though believe that assuming we get supplies, we will achieve the target.Nowt like searching for another negative from a positive is there.
Said exactly the same yesterday.I see the german media are savaging the EU for its vaccine shambles ( ie Bild, Die Zeit) Proof indeed that the eu can at times be in -competent. I am no tory but we would have been in the same mess if we had remained in this failing state.
More detailed interview with Soriot by La Repubblica below which gives an excellent insight into the whole business of vaccine production
Shows the U.K. Government, yes, THE U.K. GOVERNMENT, regulators, scientists and all those involved in U.K. production in a very good light
Pascal Soriot: "There are a lot of emotions on vaccines in EU. But it's complicated"
An exclusive interview with AstraZeneca's CEO on the accusations from Europe after the delay of Oxford vaccine supplies, some revealing details of the vacc…www.repubblica.it
And it was a very good article. You don’t get your orders in earlier enough than don’t expect your delivery schedule to be brought forward.Said exactly the same yesterday.
Mail this morning page 10 the boss of AstraZeneca Pascoe Sorlot blaming the EU for dragging its feet calling it a shambolic roll out of the vaccine.
When you fcuk up the ugly blame game starts!Excellent interview which vindicates AZ's actions. Mr Soriot sounds like an honest man. The EU is threatening to sue AZ, which for the purpose of this vaccine is a non-profit making company seemingly doing its best to satisfy everyone. AZ is supplying 17% of its vaccines to Europe which has only 5% of the world's population. There is clearly a problem in the EU arising from it being slow getting orders in and then wrongly investing in failed vaccines. Some interesting clarification of the effectiveness of the Oxford vaccine too. I'm surprised at the vindictiveness of the EU and particularly the German and French media.
Possibly not (although it was always perfectly do proceed independently even as a member of the EU).
But what is the relevance of your post to what I posted?
Whoa... at no point in the interview does Mr Soriot suggest or even imply that the EU has been ‘dragging it’s feet’ or been guilty of a ‘shambolic roll out of the vaccine’Said exactly the same yesterday.
Mail this morning page 10 the boss of AstraZeneca Pascoe Soriot blaming the EU for dragging its feet calling it a shambolic roll out of the vaccine.
Do you actually have proof of this ‘crushing’ threat because I’m not sure that you do.I am not surprised at the vindictiveness of the EU, we saw how nasty they were following the referendum result and that they were going to crush us. Vile words used against friends
Headlines page 10Whoa... at no point in the interview does Mr Soriot suggest or even imply that the EU has been ‘dragging it’s feet’ or been guilty of a ‘shambolic roll out of the vaccine’
As with most recipes, some people like to add their own ingredients to suit their tastes.
ooops...Think the EU signed the contract 3 months after the UK too.Do you actually have proof of this ‘crushing’ threat because I’m not sure that you do.
There are rumours circulating that it affects your DNA as well. Hopefully just the 50% or so that we share with bananas. **
** you'll find it in the dictionary, suspiciously close to "Brexiteers".
I’ll take that as a no. Your hatred of the eu obscures the truthThere was a lot of threats made at the time, but maybe you have just forgotten. It still does not alter the fact the eu have made a dreadful shambles of this.
So you’re basing your comments on the Daily Mail’s headlines, rather than the, presumably, verbatim reporting of Mr Soriot’s interview in La Repubblica.Headlines page 10
AstraZeneca boss: Its Europes fault for dragging feet.
The boss of AstraZeneca says the EU has itself to blame for its shambolic vaccine roll out.
It’s the headlines you idiot what bit don’t you understand? You’ve clearly not read the article have you?
Maybe you should watch catch up on the BBC as It’s also just been on the 1pm news.
Honestly some people.
I’am basing my comments on.So you’re basing your comments on the Daily Mail’s headlines, rather than the, presumably, verbatim reporting of Mr Soriot’s interview in La Repubblica.
So the BBC are wrong as well?I think you’re turning into 20’s
The paper is Italian and they had the interview with Soriot
The hacks at the Mail don’t have a political axe to grind, of course, but its’ headlines support your views so you post them even tho’ you know they’re wrong - if you’ve bothered to read the interview of course
I don’t think it’s going to happen as AZ seem to be holding firm with their justification of the current distribution timetable. And so they should.So the EU now intends to demand that AstraZenica diverts its vaccine production in the UK, destined for the UK, to be sent to the EU under threat of legal enforcement action and lightly veiled threats about AZ's future. I don't accept their argument that Pfizer vaccines produced in Belgium for the UK should be diverted to the EU but trying to take UK produced vaccines intended for the UK as well is a disgrace.
I don’t think it’s going to happen as AZ seem to be holding firm with their justification of the current distribution timetable. And so they should.
The fact the UK signed up for this vaccine and their quota 3 months prior to the EU totally validates their stance.
Can’t imagine the EU would be threatening this action if the vaccine has been found to be flawed and their tardiness had paid off.
But it hasn’t and their tardiness now comes at a price.
They need to put their dummies back in and deal with it.
There’s no need for the UK to get involved, the contract is between AZ and an Agency / Third Party acting on behalf of the EU. If Soriot is correct in his interview with La Repubblica and l doubt very much he will be wrong, the contract is a best endeavours arrangement due to it being effectively a development programme. Why some MEPs are demanding that AZ publicly issue the contract tells me they are becoming desperate due to their inability to collectively agree on a supply chain. My understanding is that the issues / delays are within the AZ manufacturing facilities on mainland Europe, having said that l hope these parties can get this resolved as quickly as possible but without detriment to the UK as we are all collectively in this war together. Not heard the EU threatening the US over the Pfizer vaccineI think the EU have been trying to draw the UK into this with some of their comments but as of now the UK is playing it with a straight bat... We will have Vaccinated all our most vulnerable in a couple weeks... The EU have yet to even clear the AZ for use..... They are under massive pressure and it's showing.
Funny how the French have been quiet on this major issue for the EU!Absolutely agree. What is particularly concerning is the implied threat by von der leyen that life can be made difficult for AZ in Europe if it doesn't immediately honour its agreement with the EU. The bottom line seems to be that Brussels has dropped a massive clanger in failing to order the AZ vaccine, then compounded the problem by investing in France's failed vaccine on the advice of Macron, then by delaying approval of the AZ vaccine, then by Germany sneaking additional undisclosed orders contrary to the EU's agreed vaccine purchase terms and then by not distributing the vaccine fairly throughout the 27 member states.
All this might have been bearable but for the fast progress the UK has made in obtaining and rolling out the jab, having vaccinated 11% of its adult population while the EU average is still just over 2%, a gap that is growing daily amid a growing European political crisis over vaccines. All in all, a disaster for the bloc.
Covid vaccines row: NHS has priority in Astrazeneca contract, insists Michael Gove
Michael Gove said that Britain had an “absolute assurance” that vaccine supplies promised by Astrazeneca would be delivered in full and ruled out allowing any twww.thetimes.co.uk
Wizz.. I believe the AZ vaccine is approx £3...the other vaccines cost approx £15.My understanding is that our contract concentrated on guaranteed delivery schedules while the EU focused on cost.
We may be paying more as a result, but it's a price worth paying.
The only thing we've got right in thus whole disaster is the vaccination programme. So far.
I have misgivings about the second jab schedule, but that's not for now.
Sounds like we took the risk in development Wiz and probably paid a hefty price for it but it’s paid offMy understanding is that our contract concentrated on guaranteed delivery schedules while the EU focused on cost.
We may be paying more as a result, but it's a price worth paying.
The only thing we've got right in thus whole disaster is the vaccination programme. So far.
I have misgivings about the second jab schedule, but that's not for now.
Faint praiseMy understanding is that our contract concentrated on guaranteed delivery schedules while the EU focused on cost.
We may be paying more as a result, but it's a price worth paying.
The only thing we've got right in thus whole disaster is the vaccination programme. So far.
I have misgivings about the second jab schedule, but that's not for now.
Wizz, has been consistent in his praise of getting this bit right.Faint praise
You are weakening
Taking a step back and looking at it from a wider perspective, it's all a bit pathetic really from both sides. Until the whole world has been vaccinated, which will take many years, Covid will remain a big problem for a very long time yet whether you get your first batches now or in three months time. Once production gets ramped up, the same number of jabs will have been done in the both geographies by the summer regardless.
What next, the Welsh should get their jabs first before the English because the phials packaging factory is in Wrexham?
Or maybe the Indian government will highjack the Wrexham factory because it's owned by an Indian parent company?
I was thinking about the Pfizer. Think weve paid around £18 a pop compared to £15 in Europe, but with guaranteed delivery.Wizz.. I believe the AZ vaccine is approx £3...the other vaccines cost approx £15.
No. Isn't it the batch made in Belgium?It's not pathetic from both sides, it's pathetic from one side. We're not trying to stop Germans using vaccines they order and manufacture in Germany or Belgians using vaccines they order and manufacture in Belgium. They're trying to stop us using vaccines ordered by us and manufactured by us in this country.
Look, the EU is a block. 27 countries. I read about this earlier. There is an issue but the EU is on a sticky wicket here as the UK signed a contract 3 months before the EU. I speak as a British European, I regret Brexit but on this issue, from my understanding, the EU have got it wrong. They should have just told every member state /country to do whatever is needed for their own population. It's an exceptional situation.Reports tonight surfacing that the EU is to stop Covid vaccines from being exported to the UK. Apparently angry that delays have hit the AZ vaccine in Europe, Brussels have imposed tougher export controls on any vaccines leaving the bloc.
"Germany's health minister, Jens Spahn, said exports of Covid vaccines should be authorised at EU level before they could leave the bloc, meaning Brussels would have the final say over whether Pfizer jabs could cross the Channel. Mr Spahn said: "We, as the EU, must be able to know whether and what vaccines are being exported from the EU."
The former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "If the EU were to take action unilaterally that restricted supplies of vaccine bought legally and fairly by the UK, it would poison economic relations for a generation. At such a critical moment, the world needs vaccine nationalism like a hole in the head."
Let's hope it's just sensationalist reporting but, if true, it's a worrying development from an increasingly nationalistic and inward-looking EU.
No. Isn't it the batch made in Belgium?
Is that next day delivery if ordered before 2pm WizzI was thinking about the Pfizer. Think weve paid around £18 a pop compared to £15 in Europe, but with guaranteed delivery.