Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Looking more like vaccines from manufacturers in the EU will be prevented from being delivered to the UK (and perhaps other places):

The head of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, threatened on Wednesday to ban exports of vaccines to safeguard scarce doses for its own citizens facing a third wave of the pandemic.

At a meeting of EU diplomats that took place shortly after von der Leyen’s warning, Germany, Italy, France and Denmark supported the commission’s stance on a tougher application of export controls, three diplomats and officials who attended the meeting or were briefed about it, said.

The Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland were more cautious, two of the officials said, adding a discussion on the matter will be held at a summit of EU leaders next week. “It’s all stemming from a growing frustration with AstraZeneca and being under increased pressure to do something about it. We don’t have enough vaccines, we export like crazy without getting anything,” said one of the diplomats who participated in the discussions.

I think vaccines should get to those who need them most. It's a shame this is being framed as vaccine inequality at a national level, however, with the UK being highlighted as some sort of pariah. I know it's all political, but it's disappointing.

I think vaccines should get to those who need them most. It's a shame this is being framed as vaccine inequality at a national level, however, with the UK being highlighted as some sort of pariah. I know it's all political, but it's disappointing.

The pressure on EU nation governments is VERY high. The EU wrote a stupid contract and the politicians are feeling the pressure for it. The UK is the most obvious close place that didn't mess up buying vaccines and on a national level, nobody is blaming the British, just our own ineffectual governments.

In general though, when you consider some EU nations are struggling to even complete the most at-risk and key workers, I think export controls (not outright bans) are reasonable.

nobody is blaming the British, just our own ineffectual governments.

I don't think that distinction is as clear as you're making it out to be. I don't have the time or desire to do it, but there must be a list of things which the EU/EU member states have said about the UK's rollout. I don't think you'll find much distinction between the government and "The British" in those claims. And even when it may be there, that's not how it'll picked up in popular discourse.

Nationalism is dumb (and dangerous), and it exists just as much in the EU as here.

In general though, when you consider some EU nations are struggling to even complete the most at-risk and key workers, I think export controls (not outright bans) are reasonable.

No disagreement from me on that point.

But again, it's framed as "The UK has received xxx million doses from us" (whatever "us" means in the context of private companies) "and that's not fair." Instead, it should be: "we are in the middle of a pandemic and need to make decisions where the well-being of EU citizens will be increased, without risking the well-being of our neighbours."

The UK is now facing a delay due to manufacturing problems in India.

Covid is worldwide unfortunately the vaccine sharing is not...

The UK is now facing a delay due to manufacturing problems in India.

I read earlier that the Serum Institute of India (who is producing the vaccines) has said the delay is due to the Indian government (and increases in domestic cases), not manufacturing.

I don't think that distinction is as clear as you're making it out to be. I don't have the time or desire to do it, but there must be a list of things which the EU/EU member states have said about the UK's rollout.

I'm talking about the actual populations of countries, not governments. Public statements from politicians are worthless so Boris may well be a pariah to EU heads of government (justifiably, but not because of vaccines) but thats as far as it goes.

I'm talking about the actual populations of countries, not governments. Public statements from politicians are worthless so Boris may well be a pariah to EU heads of government but thats as far as it goes.

You're in Luxembourg (I think?) so certainly have a better sense than me. So that's great. The closest I get is chatting with my Finnish colleagues weekly, and they certainly don't seem to be holding any ill will (although there's always been a general "British idiots!" sentiment following Brexit). I've not really probed them though.

Are India also making this political?

Might be changed, the proposal ATM is that for China entrance, you have to be vaccinated with the Chinese developed vaccine... another fine move 🙄

Brexit I got loads of crap for and the UK government's response to the Covid crisis this time last year was a frequent topic of conversation. The vaccination rate in the UK is looked at as a failure of the EU to plan correctly. Not because of bitterness that the UK is stealing "our" vaccines but wondering why a government that hasn't managed a single thing correctly during this crisis still managed to do a good job in this case, the one case that will help to normalise people's lives a year after the whole shit show started.

Luxembourg played a blinder this time last year (could test the entire population approx every 30-35 days) but now have the 4th lowest vaccination rate in the EU with numerous scandals around queue jumping for connected individuals.

Might be changed, the proposal ATM is that for China entrance, you have to be vaccinated with the Chinese developed vaccine... another fine move 🙄

From what I understand, it's possible to enter China without having been vaccinated with the locally developed vaccine but it requires different paperwork.

Are India also making this political?

I'm not sure I understand the point of your question.

If the Indian government has made the decision (which isn't entirely clear at the moment), then it was a political decision made to use the doses for their domestic population. You could also call it a public health decision, I suppose.

The difference with the EU (or UVDL) at this point is that these (potential) decisions are being framed within the context of international politics, not national (or EU) need. Questions are being framed in terms around national "fairness" or access to "our vaccines". They are Othering another/other states in the decision making process. It's petty and gross (imho).

delay is due to the Indian government (and increases in domestic cases)

Watching the cricket - I'm not surprised.

Why do countries keep unlocking, and then seem surprised that cases are increasing.

Temp of 38.8.

Been told by the app to self isolate for 11 days so living on the top floor until that’s done.

Drive through test tomorrow.

So now Rabb has called the EU a dictatorship and guess who is backing that https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eu-is-acting-like-a-dictatorship-over-vaccine-supply-says-dominic-raab-ws8dd6c8n

Seems that the EU media are taking a differing stand point.
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20210318-eu-chief-threatens-uk-with-vaccine-export-curbs

Looks like Paris is going in to a version of lockdown for a month.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210318-france-to-announce-new-coronavirus-restrictions-for-the-paris-region

From the BBC article on the Paris lockdown...

A survey conducted just as the suspension was announced found that only 20% of the French have confidence in AstraZeneca.

A hundred years or so ago, this whole problem would have taken Europe to the brink of armed conflict. We can at least be grateful the continent has come a long way in that regard.

Hope you are ok.

Yes, mainland China allows Chinese passport holders and people with residency in without vaccine but subject to quarantine. There’s quite a lot of ethnic Chinese people resident outside mainland China who hold non-Chinese passports but with family in China they have not seen in a long time. This seems to be aimed at creating a way for them to visit, if they are patriots of course.

Thanks. Absolutely normal temp this morning, no other symptoms and completely normal oxygen saturation.

Test is at 9.30 in Cambridge so I guess I’ll find out at the weekend.

Lucky that we’ve got a top floor with a shower room, spare bedroom and my office so I can hide out here until the test results, to avoid infecting the wife / little one.

Very similar to my symptoms.
Might they already have it? (Presuming you do) Could you all get tested?

You could be right. Guess I’ll find out soon!

Testing site said no tests for other household members without symptoms.

We had a bit of a mixed message on that. 4 of us, first I was told the same. Then incorrectly told everyone in the car could get tested under one person. Found that out at the test centre, who then said we should all get tested but at another centre. Quite glad because our results took about a week!

Our youngest 2, showed no significant symptoms

The site wouldn’t let me book them a test and I’m going to the test site by myself.

I guess I’ll see how things develop over the weekend.