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The EU's vaccine woes are firmly on display for all to dissect this week. What's gone wrong?
A short thread on some of the key issues
A short thread on some of the key issues
It's part vaccine mix. The EU pre-ordered >2bn vaccine doses: AZN (400m), Sanofi/GSK (300m), J&J (400m), PFE/BNTX (600m), CureVac (405m), MRNA (160m) & are in talks with Novavax for 200m.
A few of their biggest bets have yet to come thru, incl Sanofi whose vax has hit delays
A few of their biggest bets have yet to come thru, incl Sanofi whose vax has hit delays
It's part regulatory. The European Medicines Agency has a longer approval process. It granted conditional marketing approval for $PFE on Dec 21 vs UK on Dec 2, US on Dec 12. $MRNA granted Jan 6, on par w/ UK but later than US. It's yet to approve $AZN; decision expected Jan 29.
It's part national vaccination strategies. Rollout has been slow. While the European Commission makes recommendations for which groups to vaccinate first, every country ultimately decides for itself. Some systems have lots of red tape alongside high vaccine skepticism (eg France)
And now its supply issues. Both $AZN & $PZE / $BNTX have said production problems mean they will not be able to supply the EU with the doses promised under the timeframe agreed. The EU has now warned it could restrict exports of vaccines made in the bloc.
Tensions are mounting.
Tensions are mounting.
Question is: To what extent are the vaccine producers to blame for the bloc's disappointing vaccine rollout versus EU leadership?
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