Have you not read, the analysis of the contract. It seems the EU have foooked up

 

Very true. The EU did alot of faffing. I think this is the only time I can give the UK any credit in that it didn't faff on getting the vaccine approvals and rolling them out; Maybe they learnt that from the ineffective testing programs we had this time last year.

Not sure if I missed it in the media noise but can anyone tell how there is a EU shortage BEFORE the vaccine is approved? Surely nobody should have had it except for test subjects? These picture of empty vaccine rooms shown yesterday by MSM should have been empty anyway?

Could it be there there is misinformation that there are vaccine stocks, but not enough stockpiling and supply to cover the anticipated demand when they do actually start vaccinating? I'm not sure what powers the EU has over a private global business of how it handles orders, I guess it depends on the contract (now published, not read it) on if the deadline date or quantity is binding, and what AstraZeneca owes in liabilities if they are in breach. Surely any breaches mean financial compensation is owed; but it cannot "force" a company renege on already existing contracts with other customers (UK etc.) by demanding supply taken away from production that is already in place for other customers. The key wording cited by media is "Best reasonable efforts"; A stupid thing to put in a contract if you ask me (I've battled with insurers over vague wording of terms and it does get ugly), given we are talking of multi-language operations, such vagueness gives rise to various interpretations, especially with non-English speakers and/or accuracy translations of that contract from what language it was originally written in (I assume English).

It'll be interesting if they rush this through any court to decide on the contract....when in other cases contract disputes usually drag on for months if not years! I'm sure Astrazeneca are within their rights to cease the entire supply until the contract dispute is resolved!

 

'cos yeah, the Pfizer vaccine is not being produced in Belgium and delivered to the UK or anything!

There is f*all stopping AZ delivering from UK production other than AZ!

 

I'm being very facetious today, but say AstraZeneca decided to ship its UK vaccine production the EU... Given regular issues that we endured for decades with the French regularly blockading our ports when protesting and the air traffic strikes, what if the English decided to do the same and disrupt vaccine export routes.

Ethics aside; We do have a history of cutting off our noses to spite our faces (Brexit in general)

 

Maybe Gove could sell our vaccine share to the EU...plus export taxes...of course

 

The original plan was for AZ to produce the vaccine in the UK and ship it to the EU to fill the veils before shipping the finished doses back to the UK. With the new UK Covid strain and Brexit stockpiling blocking the ports, they decided to shift the filling to a new UK facility and start production in the EU. The EU contract was still signed in plenty of time before the vaccine was even finalised and mass production started.

I somewhat agree with the comment above about the AZ vaccine anyway being the worst one available. Every little bit counts, so its great to have the vaccine, particularly that its easy to store, but if any of them are going to have delivery problems, I'd rather it be the least effective one!

My parents have been vaccinated with the Pfizer one, so I'm happy, so the UK can now keep the AZ vaccine as far as I'm concerned!

 

nationalism in face of worlwide epidemic Even more short sighted than brexit if that were possible

uk are quite generous as far as worldwide supply covax

jsut as long as we get it all First

( England )

 

Indeed, just like Germany and France blocking PPE exports, remember? https://www.reuters.com/article/heal...-idUSL8N2AX3D9 and https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKBN20T166

Oh, and they're still at it: https://www.ft.com/content/ed0059c9-...f-88004b59e71d

 

I have read the redacted contract. It states AZ will supply the initial doses to the MS according to the following terms:

"best reasonable efforts" - the contract is clear to the standard they hold AZ here. This is a standard term in reality for Quality Supply Agreements
"Binding allocation"- 300 million doses subject to optional doses.

For me, who has been involved with many, many quality supply agreements I have to say that this contract is standard for a product like this. I do not hold AZs argument about the product not being approved yet as the reason for the delay as the effective date is 27 August 2020 and is not linked to the EMA approval date....and you will see that AZ have redacted the date/number of days in section 8.3. which makes me believe that they agree with me there.....

Based on this agreement, then I am fully understanding of the anger within the EU regarding the number of doses. Especially considering that AZ had funding thrown at them and have already been paid for the doses.

 

You will find this product exempt of taxes.

 

I've had a look at the main points and even as a layman, the contract terms seem to be pretty binding.

I suspect that AZ is stuck between a rock and a hard place due to supply shortages. Do they breach just one contract with the EU in order to avoid breaching all other contracts, or they breach all contracts in order to maintain an even supply to all! AZ seem to be opting for the first option!

The EU doesn't seem to be demanding the full supply from AZ, they are willing to accept the production difficulties and take a smaller delivery, but they at least want a fair share of the vaccine and not be the only ones losing out!

 

Scaling up of a vaccine is always difficult so it was probably unrealistic for AZ to promise what they did. It was clear that the EU knew this and that is why they made agreements with 4 manufacturers. I personally like AZ as I worked there for 6 years or so but it does appear that they promised something they simply knew they could not deliver (or they simply expected the demand not to be so high due to corona not being as widespread in August 2020 as it is now).

If AZ said "we can deliver 80%" then I am sure the EU would moan but accept it as reasonable. But to be told that the shortfall would be over 60% was never ever going to fly. That and the fact that AZs product is inferior does not make a pretty reading for AZ

 

Surprise, surprise!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55860540

Brexitland can say goodbye to the vaccines that work the best!

What's the betting the UK government will be telling AZ to ship UK stock to the EU before the weekend is out?

 

Just like the PPE hoarding. All this serves is more tit-for tat

Anyway...https://www.politico.eu/article/valn...e-in-scotland/

Wonder if Scotland will keep it for themselves?

 

EU have placed boarder controls between Ireland and NI

 

If I wasnt married

 

The UK has placed border controls between the UK mainland and NI since the beginning of January! What's your point?

 

In only a matter of minutes, after the EU invoked clause 16 to block vaccines, creating a hard border in Ireland.

Now after a huge disastrous misjudgment,are now rescinding clause 16.

Its been less than a month and the EU have truly lost control. The world has just seen a headless organization going into meltdown

All because they were glacier slow in arranging vaccine supply. Jealousy really doesn't cover EU's ineptitude

 

Only matter time before United Ireland

 

I see more xhance of the EU falling appart than that tbh and the way it going they are only making it happen faster

 

The EU's current Very Dumb Leader is so out of her depth, I bet Germany is so proud/regretting they got her inserted into the office.

It seems to be the EUs modus operandi by employing failed domestic politicians.

The last leader was a drunk, the one before was Mr Burns moonlighting as a politician.

What a bunch of clowns

 

starting to prove to be a good thing we left

 

There was no need to prove the point. It was bleeding obvious to those of us with belief in the UK

 

Lack of belief you mean i presume

 

All your comments are always glass half empty with regards to the UK

Cleared that up

 

It’s not a competition though is it !

 

...

 

That's what losers always say. Did you go to a school where at sports day, they didn't have winners or losers for the events ?

 

Calling all Brexiteers racists?
Isn't that like calling all Muslims Terrorists?

Or do double standards only work one way?

 

you should know they only work one way by now man,,,,