Tensions around the EU’s threat to restrict exports of the AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine to the UK appear to have eased with a joint EU/UK statement announcing that they are working on a “win-win situation to expand supply for all”.
Failure to cooperate would be a waste of precious time, especially now that a third wave of the virus is seriously affecting UK neighbours such as France – where Paris has locked down – and Italy, which plans a total lockdown over Easter.
The EU export restrictions have had mixed reviews online, with some finding hidden meanings behind what they see as an “attack” on the UK. The posts below this BBC article offer some interesting insights. Strange Fire for example accuses the EU of “vindictiveness”.
Many of the posts argue about the terms of the contact. The Flying Dutchman compares the independence of Astra Zeneca to an “authoritarian” EU. Meanwhile attila the hun argues for a more inclusive ‘human’ approach to honouring the contract; only to be told that the contract only required AstraZeneca to make its “best efforts” to supply the EU – in which case has the company failed at all?
Others defended the UK for a fast response and early investment in the vaccination that has paid off; and accused the EU of allegedly waiting until it could get a better price for the vaccine.
Back in December Belgium’s Budget State Secretary Eva De Bleeker tweeted a screenshot that suggested the EU was only paying 1.75€ per dose of the Oxford vaccine, which would have been around a pound less than what the UK pays.
Since then Director-General for Health at the European Commission Sandra Gallina has denied those figures and has told the European Parliament, “Our price will be fully comparable with that of the UK.
One can understand the frustration that’s coming from both sides. Whether British or a European national, everyone wants the COVID pandemic to be over as soon as possible so that people can get their lives back.
But suddenly limiting vaccination supplies to a nation with plans that are going right for once doesn’t make any sense.
If the UK gets into a position where it can help the EU without compromising its own people’s health, then there is no discussion – it would be expected to do so. But as the posts below suggest, you can’t take the bread out of your own children’s mouths to feed someone else’s.
In this situation the UK gambled on the AstraZeneca vaccine and won. As for the EU, whether it was trying to get a better price or simply being slow, it only has itself to blame.