EU making a pigs breakfast of vaccination programme

[HundredRoom]

Thank god we are not at the mercy of the all powerful EU when it comes to rolling out the vaccine. Dont they always push the line that they can do better deals because they are so big ?


The daily rankings of vaccination campaigns are making increasingly uncomfortable reading for most European countries. While Israel has managed to issue a remarkable 40 doses per 100 of its population, and Britain and the United States 9.3 and 6.2 respectively – with President Biden ramping up the American program – the EU is stuck on a mere 1.9. Amid mounting and understandable criticism, it is promising to jab everyone by the summer. And yet, according to calculations by the website Politico, it will need a five-fold increase in its rate of vaccination to hit that target.


In truth, the EU’s vaccine procurement programme has turned into a mess. As Gutram Wolff, the director of the Bruegel Institute, usually fiercely loyal to Brussels, tweeted: ‘The EU spends less per vaccine shot than other industrial countries. This stingy approach cost lives. It’s incomprehensible.’

Crisis of its own making

 

[Doom_On_Horseback]

The frustration in Germany is growing every day...their weekly target is 675,000...we are getting close to being able to do that in a day...and they're not hitting their target.

 

[ChrisTheRed]

Thank god we are not at the mercy of the all powerful EU when it comes to rolling out the vaccine. Dont they always push the line that they can do better deals because they are so big ?


The daily rankings of vaccination campaigns are making increasingly uncomfortable reading for most European countries. While Israel has managed to issue a remarkable 40 doses per 100 of its population, and Britain and the United States 9.3 and 6.2 respectively – with President Biden ramping up the American program – the EU is stuck on a mere 1.9. Amid mounting and understandable criticism, it is promising to jab everyone by the summer. And yet, according to calculations by the website Politico, it will need a five-fold increase in its rate of vaccination to hit that target.


In truth, the EU’s vaccine procurement programme has turned into a mess. As Gutram Wolff, the director of the Bruegel Institute, usually fiercely loyal to Brussels, tweeted: ‘The EU spends less per vaccine shot than other industrial countries. This stingy approach cost lives. It’s incomprehensible.’

Crisis of its own making

Shhhhhhhhh.

You aren't allowed to be negative about the EU on here...

 

[SmallTown]

I imagine it's because they are trying to stick to the manufacturers instructions? As our government has proven you can either vaccinate people properly and slowly or, as we are trying, half vaccinate a lot of people to make the numbers look good

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Aren't they struggling with supply of the Pfizer vaccine but still haven't verified the Astra Zeneca vaccine?

 

[FabioPorkpie]

Aren't they struggling with supply of the Pfizer vaccine but still haven't verified the Astra Zeneca vaccine?

yep. Exactly this. For some reason, several major players are really dragging their heels in approving the much cheaper and more widely available Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. And it’s hot nothing to do with safety or efficacy. Politics, big pharma influence? Who knows?

 

[SmallTown]

yep. Exactly this. For some reason, several major players are really dragging their heels in approving the much cheaper and more widely available Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. And it’s hot nothing to do with safety or efficacy. Politics, big pharma influence? Who knows?

How do you know its got nothing to do with safety are efficacy?

 

[LaPennaBianca]

Shhhhhhhhh.

You aren't allowed to be negative about the EU on here...

You can be as negative as you like, just root it in fact as HundredRoom has done.

Very slow off the mark, our friends in Europe.

I can't help but think that this wouldn't have been the case of the UK had remained in the EU - given that we would have had the EMA here, have the most expertise in pharmaceuticals and, as has been evidenced, vaccine roll out.

Also, in the long run, not much good us having a wholly vaccinated UK if our closest neighbours are lagging behind.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

Ahhh "big pharma", can't live with them, can't get back to normal without them.

 

[Matt]

I imagine it's because they are trying to stick to the manufacturers instructions? As our government has proven you can either vaccinate people properly and slowly or, as we are trying, half vaccinate a lot of people to make the numbers look good

I am very against Brexit, but I think you're wide of the mark here.

Even if we were doing the 3 week gap we would still be hitting almost 500k jabs a day, and of course that could be "spun" to make us look good (actually no spinning required, it IS good).

I just think that this is one instance where not being tied to the EU has benefitted us... it's ok to admit that but still think that Brexit is a shambles

 

[FabioPorkpie]

How do you know its got nothing to do with safety are efficacy?

I think you know the answer to that question.

 

[Londons_Moggie]

When dealing with a crisis such as this I feel it is easier for individual countries to manage the process than a slow moving behemoth bogged down with red tape. I hope they can pick their game up otherwise they’re going to struggle to complete it this year

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I am very against Brexit, but I think you're wide of the mark here.

Even if we were doing the 3 week gap we would still be hitting almost 500k jabs a day, and of course that could be "spun" to make us look good (actually no spinning required, it IS good).

I just think that this is one instance where not being tied to the EU has benefitted us... it's ok to admit that but still think that Brexit is a shambles

But it's not just about hitting numbers, which you can then tweet about how we're "world beating" and ahead of other European countries.

It's about following the clinical evidence to make the overall vaccination drive as impactful as possible, rather than creating headlines based on numbers of people who've had one injection.

 

[Ex Footy Legs]

Thank god we are not at the mercy of the all powerful EU when it comes to rolling out the vaccine. Dont they always push the line that they can do better deals because they are so big ?

The daily rankings of vaccination campaigns are making increasingly uncomfortable reading for most European countries. While Israel has managed to issue a remarkable 40 doses per 100 of its population, and Britain and the United States 9.3 and 6.2 respectively – with President Biden ramping up the American program – the EU is stuck on a mere 1.9. Amid mounting and understandable criticism, it is promising to jab everyone by the summer. And yet, according to calculations by the website Politico, it will need a five-fold increase in its rate of vaccination to hit that target.


In truth, the EU’s vaccine procurement programme has turned into a mess. As Gutram Wolff, the director of the Bruegel Institute, usually fiercely loyal to Brussels, tweeted: ‘The EU spends less per vaccine shot than other industrial countries. This stingy approach cost lives. It’s incomprehensible.’

Crisis of its own making

Oh yes.
I guarantee this country will be heading back to our EU bright as button friends tail between legs pretty soon as the debacle continues to unfold on jobs for British.
The most unpatriotic person in this country because of what train wreck he knew was coming is our Prime Minister; I give you ; one BORIS JOHNSON ladies and gentlemen (and children whose futures he has wrecked)
Read this article and weep
Weep for the lies told yesterday and today
Weep mostly though as investment and jobs drain away
Labour has to stand on a ticket in 2024 of business first jobs first
Talk to the EU
Britain’s people need to give me (Starmer) permission to go and discuss a better way with the EU

The bill for Boris Johnson’s Brexit is coming in and it’s punishingly steep | Andrew Rawnsley

Ministers say it is just teething trouble. To many businesses it feels more like root canal surgery without the benefit of anaesthetic

www.theguardian.com

 

[Doom_On_Horseback]

Almost 500k per day and people still whine. I'd much prefer to be in our shoes than that of the EU right now.

 

[FabioPorkpie]

Ahhh "big pharma", can't live with them, can't get back to normal without them.

Very true. But when the USA is in no rush to grant EUA for the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine,( what’s the latest, aiming for April or something down the line last I heard) and the head of the group overseeing the vaccine process in the States was a director of Moderna before taking over, that raises some questions regarding influence as far as I’m concerned. Could well be absolutely nothing in this, but those questions would not be a consideration IF they were looking to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine in an understandable time frame.

 

[MolteniArcore]

You can be as negative as you like, just root it in fact as HundredRoom has done.

Very slow off the mark, our friends in Europe.

I can't help but think that this wouldn't have been the case of the UK had remained in the EU - given that we would have had the EMA here, have the most expertise in pharmaceuticals and, as has been evidenced, vaccine roll out.

Also, in the long run, not much good us having a wholly vaccinated UK if our closest neighbours are lagging behind.

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. We were subject to EU rules and still approved the vaccine as any EU country could have done. I think if we had remained in the EU due to the very high infection rates we were suffering we would have taken the same course of action anyway.

There seems to be lots of issues affecting the roll out on the Continent and not just the fact it's 'THE EVIL EU'. Look at France, the public won't take it for example.

I am no fan of this Government but it would appear that they are doing a great job of rolling the vaccine out. There are questions still over how wise it is to hold the 2nd jab back for so long, especially as it looks like this will be a long lockdown, but as it stands chapeau the Government

You do wonder though if they hadn't locked down late the last two times would we be needing to rush the vaccine out and make people wait 12 weeks for their 2nd dose, but that's a separate discussion.

The EU need to sort it out though, that's for sure.

 

[masquesmog]

I am very against Brexit, but I think you're wide of the mark here.

Even if we were doing the 3 week gap we would still be hitting almost 500k jabs a day, and of course that could be "spun" to make us look good (actually no spinning required, it IS good).

I just think that this is one instance where not being tied to the EU has benefitted us... it's ok to admit that but still think that Brexit is a shambles

ditto on Brexit but, as the table shows, the EU countries just aren't doing a good job. The table is number of doses. Even ignoring the UK, the EU comparison with US also isn't good. The US are following the Pfizer protocol AND very self critical of their own roll out to date.

ofhttps://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

 

[UKLL1981]

The problem with the European Union and it’s always been the case is that whenever there is a crisis, there actually is no union, it’s every country for themselves.

If it’s not covid it’s the migrant refugees that countries just passed off to the next country along. Look at the financial crash and the situation with Greece or what Poland is trying to do.

EU counties are already breaking ranks with regards to covid approvals and vaccinations, the EU is trying to promote the image it’s a collective effort of approving, securing and administration of vaccines when countries like Hungary are approving and buying the Russian vaccine.

 

[Doom_On_Horseback]

The problem with the European Union and it’s always been the case is that whenever there is a crisis, there actually is no union, it’s every country for themselves.

If it’s not covid it’s the migrant refugees that countries just passed off to the next country along.

EU counties are already breaking ranks with regards to covid approvals and vaccinations, the EU is trying to promote the image it’s a collective effort of securing and administrative when countries like Hungary are approving and buying the Russian vaccine.

You could argue that the reason some of the larger, more powerful countries in the EU are being held back as a result of being in the union. Germany for example have thousands of mass vaccination sites all of the country. They simply can't get the vaccines as they're being divided equally to each EU member. That and the fact that the EU hasn't even approved the Astra Zenica vaccine.