The EU v UK vaccine tussle

[amusingduck]

Muddle238 said:

It seems the EU bosses are also free to do whatever they want in making vaccine rollout as much of a complete mess as possible. Why is Germany vaccinating 30 year olds??

The oldies are too scared to take the AZ vaccine, of which Germany has ~1m stockpiled, because of completely inexplicable reasons?

[RedWhiteMonkey]

amusingduck said:

The oldies are too scared to take the AZ vaccine, of which Germany has ~1m stockpiled, because of completely inexplicable reasons?

I don't think it's a case of oldies being scared, more that up until a couple of days ago the AZ vaccine wasn't cleared by the German health authority for use on the over 65s. When you make an vaccination appointment here you don't get a choice of which vaccine you will receive.

[amusingduck]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

I don't think it's a case of oldies being scared, more that up until a couple of days ago the AZ vaccine wasn't cleared by the German health authority for use on the over 65s. When you make an vaccination appointment here you don't get a choice of which vaccine you will receive.

They used to get a choice. Apparently people have been shunning the AZ vaccine in significant numbers, for inexplicable reasons

article said:

Vaccines against COVID-19 are in short supply in Germany at the moment - but not all vaccines are created equal. In fact, reports have surfaced this week of huge quantities of the AstraZeneca jab lying unused, as patients shun the vaccine in favour of other options.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is suffering from a reputation problem in Germany. On Wednesday, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia told SPIEGEL that they had seen a number of “concerning” indications that the population’s “willingness to vaccinate, in reference to AstraZeneca, has so far been subdued.”

Vaccination progress is not only stalling in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Minister of Health in Saarland, Monika Bachmann, this week criticised the fact that 54 percent of 200 people who had been signed up for a vaccination failed to show up to their appointments this weekend.

The RBB has also reported that, of the 30.000 doses that arrived in Berlin last week, only just under 1.000 had been used, while thousands of vaccination appointments were remaining unfilled. In the capital, everyone has the freedom to choose which vaccine they receive, and so uptake among doctors and nurses is apparently low.

https://www.iamexpat.de/expat-info/german-expat-news/vaccinations-stalling-germany-people-shun-astrazeneca-jab

Evidently, it's much easier to make people doubt a vaccine than it is to undo that doubt. A mind-bendingly stupid thing to play games with.

[Muddle238]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

amusingduck said:

The oldies are too scared to take the AZ vaccine, of which Germany has ~1m stockpiled, because of completely inexplicable reasons?

I don't think it's a case of oldies being scared, more that up until a couple of days ago the AZ vaccine wasn't cleared by the German health authority for use on the over 65s. When you make an vaccination appointment here you don't get a choice of which vaccine you will receive.

It’ll be interesting to see how quickly they get through their stockpile.

I wonder if they’d still have banned it from the over 65s had there been no shortage in January.

[NRS]

Wombat3 said:

It gets worse - seems as though Italy has had 1.5M doses of the AZ vaccine delivered but only actually used less than 350K to date.

Who are they going to use it on? Last I saw they only allow for under 55yos. So basically the low risk people who don’t have much rush to get it for the most part.

[Armchair Expert]

poo at Paul's said:

UK's vaccination program has waned a little this week, near half the level of prior weeks. I hope we keep the impetus on vaccinating UK citizens as a priority, ..

It is because they are now having to give the second dose?

[loafer123]

jsf said:

Earthdweller said:

That might be way forward I’ll ring them on Monday. We both are registered with GP’s in England and still pay tax in U.K. and are resident

Not sure how that will work with NI as we are staying in the South at the moment .. but there’s no harm in asking

And if necessary hopefully I can get done as her carer ( which I am )

I’ll let you know what they say on Monday

Thanks

Best of luck.

Try the online booking system. https://vaccinations.covid-19.hscni.net/booking

Yes....don’t ask and be a subjective decision by someone...use the online booking system and, assuming you are eligible, all will be sorted.

[youngsyr]

Armchair Expert said:

poo at Paul's said:

UK's vaccination program has waned a little this week, near half the level of prior weeks. I hope we keep the impetus on vaccinating UK citizens as a priority, ..

It is because they are now having to give the second dose?

And the planned slow down in output from Pfizer while they upgrade their production line, I believe.

[youngsyr]

Earthdweller said:

jsf said:

I checked the info online last night and your mum is allowed to travel for medical reasons. Get her booked into NHS NI and pop over the border, she is entitled to UK vaccine.

That might be way forward I’ll ring them on Monday. We both are registered with GP’s in England and still pay tax in U.K. and are resident

Not sure how that will work with NI as we are staying in the South at the moment .. but there’s no harm in asking

And if necessary hopefully I can get done as her carer ( which I am )

I’ll let you know what they say on Monday

Thanks

I heard on BBC radio a couple of weeks ago that just being present in the UK qualifies you for the vaccine if you're in an age group that is being vaccinated.

No need to be a British citizen, or even there legally.

Good luck!

Edited by youngsyr on Saturday 6th March 08:30

[Pickled Piper]

It's good to see there is progress in Germany, but it does appear to be in pockets and depend on where you live. I have family in Bavaria; two elderly at 75+ both with serious health conditions and absolutely no visibility of when they will get vaccinated, another at 50+ with diabetes, again with no visibility of a vaccination date.

On top of this the press and the Government did such a good job of creating distrust in the AZ, that they would probably turn it down if offered it tomorrow. The creators and perpetuators of the fake news have a lot to answer for.

Edited by Pickled Piper on Saturday 6th March 18:33

[i4got]

youngsyr said:

I heard on BBC radio a couple of weeks ago that just being present in the UK qualifies you for the vaccine if you're in an age group that is being vaccinated.

No need to be a British citizen, or even there legally.

Good luck!

Edited by youngsyr on Saturday 6th March 08:30

As long as you're registered with a GP you'll be OK i think.

[Art0ir]

Earthdweller said:

And if necessary hopefully I can get done as her carer ( which I am )

I’ll let you know what they say on Monday

Thanks

You absolutely can, my sister got hers last week for this purpose.

[FiF]

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

[loafer123]

FiF said:

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

Whilst I agree with the last sentence, I question why the US would prioritise the EU over Mexico and Canada should it want to share some of its supply.

[Murph7355]

loafer123 said:

Whilst I agree with the last sentence, I question why the US would prioritise the EU over Mexico and Canada should it want to share some of its supply.

Indeed.

I guess we'll see how benevolent Biden feels towards the EU,

Maybe Coveney can pull some strings for more localised help.

[MiniMan64]

FiF said:

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

So on one hand, ps off Australia you’re not allowed any vaccine from us but on the other, help America! Give us your vaccine?

[don'tbesilly]

FiF said:

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

Politico covers the story as well:

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-us-covid-vaccin...

[Andy 308GTB]

don'tbesilly said:

FiF said:

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

Politico covers the story as well:

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-us-covid-vaccin...

"The EU and the US are both major producers of vaccines and we have a strong interest in working together, for the good functioning of global supply chains" von der Leyen said in a statement after the call.

This is the key phrase. I suspect the americans understanding is 'Global' (i.e. not simply putting the EU in front of everyone else).

[Teddy Lop]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

I don’t really get the delight that some on this thread seem to take in seeing the UK do better than the EU (or anyone) in this whole thing. This is a worldwide pandemic, to only see as far the end of the street is incredibly naïve and to take delight in the misfortune of others simply because they are foreign is bizarre. Talking of bizarre, Germany seems to have its fair share of anti-vac loons but that seems the case in many other countries too. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see much of return to normality until at least 30 to 40% of the population is vaccinated.

if you'd followed the thread its been stated several times, but I'll outline it again for you.

Vindication. For those of us who, after a quantity of conscientious and considered thought, and with the best will, voted for brexit, and for the last 4 years have been subject to maelstrom of spite by an indignant minority who, despite being in many cases intelligent and compassionate people, hold themselves to this daft PC monocultural doctrine that precludes independent thought, and the heresy "we" committed in voting brexit has made us the target for the kind of spite and vile behaviour that were they able to look in the mirror and appreciate the depth they've sunk to they'd be disgusted. At least, for their sakes, I sincerely hope they would. Unable to counter the many genuine reasons to vote out of the eu we've been smeared and sneered at with "stupid" and "racist" being the only "allowable explanations" and in many cases, as the cultural and media elites are largely taken by this gospel and have continued to excrete this constant anti-brexit propaganda, and despite being a majority have been made to hide as if in shame. "They" tell me because I'm a straight white male that I can't emphasise with the struggles of gays or blacks etc - "they" might want to really look at the orgy of hate and hostility they've indulged in while exploiting their powerbase of culture and media influence. Isn't the "woke" definition of racism/oppression now "discrimination plus power?

And now, brexit has happened. now we have what one might call one of the first great challenges of the two administrations, a subject the eu and its fans were stating as fact that Britain had to join the eu program or it would surely suffer terribly, too incompetent to mangage by itself they said, again they revelled in the besmirching of the UK, we would be killing our grandmothers if we didn't subject ourselves to the supremacy and compassion of the eu's program they said.

And the day of truth comes... And the eu has shown a full gamut of just how appalling it is, we have its utter incompetence, its complete failure in its duty to its 300M peoples health and life, we have its response which is to immediately resort to utterly dictatorial behaviour, undermining the market freedom and the trust in law and due process that binds a democracy together, we have, instead of attempting to "mend" the situation, an eu that has been more preoccupied with trying to mask its incompetence, blaming everyone but itself, even tampering with the NI border and risking the wrath of terrorists to try to deflect from its inadequatness. That alone should frighten even the most zealous, starry flagged eu fanboys.

Meanwhile, rather inconveniently and lets be honest, probably against even most of team-brexits most optimistic predictions, Boris has torn a hole in the back of the net and for good measure knocked out a passing traffic warden. I don't know how he did it, I'm not sure he does, but it's properly fking hilarious.

So let us enjoy this vindication. I hope the countries of europe sort their st out and wish for the least amount of death and suffering on its peoples. And that can be entirely selfish - Like it or not the health of Britain is dependant in every way on a Europe that's healthy too. Life is not a zero sum game.

[NextSlidePlease]

MiniMan64 said:

FiF said:

EU asking the US to supply millions of doses of the Oxford/AZ vaccine and free flow of the ingredients to facilitate the manufacture.

Reported in both FT(primary source) and DT, many links available on no paywall media.

Here's one from Sardinia.

https://www.unionesarda.it/en/articolo/news/mondo/...

Be interesting to see response, President has said previously that "first priority is to vaccinate Americans."

Yet the fundamental key is cooperation, while the EU is the fustercluck it is then recovery, or lack of, affects us all.

So on one hand, ps off Australia you’re not allowed any vaccine from us but on the other, help America! Give us your vaccine?

The vaccine in question that they have millions sat in fridges unused?

They have behaved like petulant little children over this, desperate to blame everyone else for their own failings. Shame on them its the european citizens who will suffer as a result.