COVID Vaccine !

[Bazzer]

It says in the report you linked that BA are also preparing to require vaccination. I reckon someone is more likely to complain about BA than P&O Cruises.

They may well do, but ultimately BA has to ensure passenger safety. Filling an aluminium tube with people and recycling the air therein, in the knowledge that some in said aluminium tube are not fully vaccinated, (leaving to one side the efficacy of one jab or two), against a disease which has caused the death of millions in the last 12 months, sounds to me like a recipe for the engagement of m' learned friend.
It will also have to comply with government rules, both UK and overseas and I would be extremely surprised if the parent company IAG, has not already been in discussions with governments, whether formally or informally, about how air travel can resume. Despite the economic damage which is being caused, it isn't hard to see some governments imposing restrictions on who can visit their countries, as we or they, move out of restrictions.

 

[MontyVeda]

all over 50s now allowed... off for mine tomorrow

 

[Rusty Nails]

Von der Leyen is now threatening to restrict vaccine supplies to the UK from the EU because we (Oxford AZ) are not being fair with our delivery of vaccines to them.

This is going to get nastier.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Von der Leyen is now threatening to restrict vaccine supplies to the UK from the EU because we (Oxford AZ) are not being fair with our delivery of vaccines to them.

This is going to get nastier.

Yes...... it’s not half. On one hand we have countries n the EU stopping the AZ vaccine due to risks but at the same time they now want to halt exports. Still think Brussels have f.....d up and dithered too long assessing the vaccine. The cynic in me thinks this is all a ruse to make sure they have more supplies of AZ .

 

[lazybloke]

Family holiday season is very lucrative for the travel industry, so I'm certain that BA and other carrires will allow children with nothing more than a recent negative test result.

Why not have the same exemption others too? can't see the carriers being fussy about accepting cash.


But overseas travel is not for me. Far too much uncertainy around travel arrangements, poor availability of amenities at the destination, other restrictions, risk of travel disruption, last minute imposition of quarantine requirements etc.
Imaging the disappointment of havin to cancel at short notice.

I'd rather minimise that risk, so I've opted for a UK holiday again this year.

 

[Ajax Bay]

The problem with these threats of export control, veiled and/or caveated, is that the mitigation is stockpiling doses to make sure a nation's got second doses of the same make available when needed. In UK this is a contingency issue only for its supplies of Pfizer-BioNTech doses. The downside is that rates of vaccination are liable to be adversely affected and additional lives (of under 50s) will be lost.
And in addition does nothing (or is negative) for vaccine acceptance/uptake. Will cause friction (the front brake cable I've just replaced had unnecessary friction 'tween inner and outer, adversely affecting the brake's operation).
In much of the EU, stocks of the Oxford-AZ vaccine are stacking up in cold storage because most EU nations have initiated a pause in its use. The EU will be stuffed if Belgium decides to stop exports to other EU countries!!! Of course it hasn't sufficient residual sovereignty to do so, even if it was bonkers enough to consider it.
Hancock, answering the BBC question, has used the EU Commission President's own words (regarding manufacturers honouring contracts) to demonstrate why these EU suggestions are ill founded and benefit noone, least of all the EU.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Von der Leyen is now threatening to restrict vaccine supplies to the UK from the EU because we (Oxford AZ) are not being fair with our delivery of vaccines to them.

This is going to get nastier.

Nah.

It's just grandstanding for home consumption. Nothing will come of it. Same as our threatening the Chinese with battleships.

 

[randynewmanscat]

The whole vaccine rollout is a huge embarrassment for the EU, and I cannot help but believe it is partly PR based, linked to their initial problems with AZ.......Vaccine rollout slow, blame AZ for the contract issue, then blame them for lack of efficacy in older people, then blame them for blood clot "safety problems". Not our fault Guv.

Its more than an embarrassment Rusty, it is a disaster for individuals and the economies of the member states. I am a Europhile but if someone asked me if I thought something was wrong with the EU aside from the crap CAP I would mention the insipid vaccine none "rollout".
It would be funny if I was not affected as far as their economies go but there is nought for me to laugh at with the obviously later to be counted extra deaths.

 

[lane]

Warning of significant reduction in vaccine availability from end of March. This seems lower than was envisaged and may be exacerbated by export restrictions from EU.

BBC are saying this is not normal lumpyness in supply but an unanticipated reduction that will slow progress on over 40s. Although Government still say they will meet end of July target but earlier now looking less likely.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56435549

Edit Guardian calling it "a major shortage"

 

[Rusty Nails]

Nah.

It's just grandstanding for home consumption. Nothing will come of it. Same as our threatening the Chinese with battleships.

I hope so, but like the legal action over our unilateral decision on the Brexit deal over NI, they could be serious.

 

[Bazzer]

Channel 4 reporting that half of the AZ vaccine in Europe is unused.

 

[dodgy]

Channel 4 reporting that half of the AZ vaccine in Europe is unused.

I predict legal action by some member states in months to come against central Eu executive branch. They're risking life, I can't believe they're being like this!

 

[midlife]

Wife tried to book a vaccine slot today as over 50. Would not let her book as she is not a carer.

 

[MrGrumpy]

I predict legal action by some member states in months to come against central Eu executive branch. They're risking life, I can't believe they're being like this!

It does not look great and to the rest of the world it reeks of bully boy tactics

 

[roubaixtuesday]

.

I predict legal action by some member states in months to come against central Eu executive branch. They're risking life, I can't believe they're being like this!

The EU have done literally nothing to stop member states using the AZ vaccine. Indeed, EMA have explicitly said it's safe to continue. It's entirely individual member states. So they'd need to sue themselves.