The COVID-2019 Thread

[strigils]

From the Guardian live reporting thread

There is more coming out from that interview on German radio in which EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that the union’s contract with AstraZeneca contains binding orders.
Demanding a plausible explanation from the drugmaker for delivery hold-ups.
Von der Leyen told Deutschlandfunk radio the best-effort delivery cause in the contract was only valid as long as it was not clear whether AstraZeneca could develop a vaccine.
It appears that she also mentioned two production facilities in Great Britain which she said were intended for the production of the vaccine for the EU,
“How you manage it is up to you,” she added.
Her comments come as it is feared that millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine could be blocked from entering Britain from the EU within days after Brussels said it had to respond to shortages emerging in member states.
Following reports of a lack of doses across the bloc, the European commission announced plans to give national regulators the power to reject export requests.
The development raises concerns over the continued flow of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, for which the UK has a 40m-dose order, from its plant in Belgium.



Officials conceded that a block on the export of vaccines such as that produced by Pfizer/BioNTech in Belgium for the UK was possible. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

[strigils]

A reasonably unbiased article from an hour ago on the Beeb, seems they are looking to publish the contract later so hopefully the veil will be lifted today.

Covid: AstraZeneca contract must be published, says European Commission chief
Published41 minutes ago



The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for the EU's vaccine contract with drug-maker AstraZeneca to be published, in a growing row over reduced supplies.

The contract signed in August contained "binding orders", she told German radio, and she demanded "plausible explanations" for the hold-ups.

UK-Swedish AstraZeneca is blaming production delays at two plants.

Its vaccine is expected to be approved by the EU medicines regulator later.

The August deal was for 300 million doses for the European Union to be delivered after regulatory approval, with an option for 100 million more.

But EU sources say they now expect to get only about a quarter of the 100 million vaccines they were expecting to receive by March, a shortfall of about 75 million jabs.

AstraZeneca says the production problems are at its plants in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The EU wants the contract published to back up its argument that AstraZeneca is reneging on its commitments.

The company's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, has said that the contract stipulated that the company would make its "best effort" to meet the EU demand and did not compel the company to stick to a specific timetable - an assertion disputed by the EU.

The EU is under pressure after criticism that the pace of vaccine distribution in several member countries has been too slow.

Supplies of another vaccine, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, have also dropped due to production issues.

Warning of a 'vaccine war'

"There are binding orders and the contract is crystal clear," Mrs von der Leyen said in Friday morning's radio interview.

"'Best effort' was valid while it was still unclear whether they could develop a vaccine. That time is behind us. The vaccine is there.

"AstraZeneca has also explicitly assured us in this contract that no other obligations would prevent the contract from being fulfilled," she said.

The company is producing the jab at its UK plants too and there have been no reported problems with its contract with the UK authorities.

EU officials say AstraZeneca has been asked to send some doses manufactured in the UK to the continent to make up the shortfall, but the company said on Wednesday that its contract for UK supplies prevented this.

UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday that UK supplies "won't be interrupted".

But Mrs von der Leyen insisted the EU's contract with AstraZeneca listed two UK plants as production sites for vaccine destined for the EU.

Calling for the document to be published, she said: "We are speaking with the company about which parts need to be redacted. But we want to achieve transparency."

The EU is likely to unveil special powers later to help ensure its supply of vaccines, including a possible limit on the export of vaccines produced in the bloc.

There is speculation that these powers could also see companies being forced to hand over production to other firms inside the EU and share intellectual property.

However, the European Council is stressing the need for negotiations in order to reach a solution before enforcement becomes necessary.

Meanwhile, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has warned of a "vaccine war".

Speaking on Belgian radio, he said: "The EU commission has pushed to co-ordinate the vaccines contracts on behalf of the 27 precisely to avoid a vaccines war between EU countries, but maybe the UK wants to start a vaccine war?

"Solidarity is an important principle of the EU. With Brexit, it's clear that the UK doesn't want to show solidarity with anyone."

[OhOh]

Beijing to implement '14+7+7' health observation for inbound travelers

Xinhua, January 20, 2021


"Beijing will extend the health observation period to 28 days for inbound travelers from overseas to avoid the import of COVID-19 cases, according to a press conference held by municipal authorities on Tuesday.

The new "14+7+7" model comprises the 14-day centralized medical quarantine, one week of home isolation or centralized quarantine, and another week of health monitoring.

Inbound individuals through other domestic cities have to wait 21 days before entering the Chinese capital, and seven-day health monitoring is required after their entrance.

For those with an inbound period of less than 21 days but are already in Beijing, the "7+7" isolation and health monitoring have to be completed here, local authorities said.

During the seven-day health monitoring, people can follow their normal routines while avoiding gatherings. They are also advised to regularly report their health conditions to local communities."

Beijing to implement '14+7+7' health observation for inbound travelers- China.org.cn

[Neverna]

Following reports of a lack of doses across the bloc, the European commission announced plans to give national regulators the power to reject export requests.
The development raises concerns over the continued flow of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, for which the UK has a 40m-dose order, from its plant in Belgium.

I suppose the UK could do the same in a tit-for-tat manner.

[Joe 90]

A third production plant has opened on Teeside for the latest vaccine.

The UK will be swimming in vaccines within a month.

We will have a surplus soon and the EU will get their vaccines.

Btw Genticles AZ is a Swedish/British company.

[strigils]

I suppose the UK could do the same in a tit-for-tat manner.

Neverna, lets hope it doesn't play out like that, this should be a time when the world is pulling together but as i posted some days back i fear when the boat goes down its every man for himself in the lifeboat stakes. Its all a bit nasty and gawd knows how poorer countries waiting for supplies view the spat.

[harrybarracuda]

Two million doses of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Chile

Poor Chileans.

[harrybarracuda]

A reasonably unbiased article from an hour ago on the Beeb, seems they are looking to publish the contract later so hopefully the veil will be lifted today.

And it has been.

The agreement appears to backs up this interpretation, saying…

“AstraZeneca has committed to use its Best Reasonable Efforts (as defined below) to build capacity to manufacture 300 million Doses of the Vaccine, at no profit and no loss to AstraZeneca, at the total cost currently estimated to be [REDACTED] Euros for distribution within the EU [REDACTED] (the “Initial Europe Doses”), with an option for the Commission, acting on behalf of the Participating Member States, to order an additional 100 million Doses (the “Optional Doses”).”

And goes on to define Best Reasonable Efforts as meaning:

“(a) in the case of AstraZeneca, the activities and degree of effort that a company of similar size with a similarly-sized infrastructure and similar resources as AstraZeneca would undertake or use in the development and manufacture of a Vaccine at the relevant stage of development or commercialization having regard to the urgent need for a Vaccine to end a global pandemic”

[harrybarracuda]

Neverna, lets hope it doesn't play out like that, this should be a time when the world is pulling together but as i posted some days back i fear when the boat goes down its every man for himself in the lifeboat stakes. Its all a bit nasty and gawd knows how poorer countries waiting for supplies view the spat.

If the Europeans try and punish the UK for their own ineptitude, it is only right that UK disregard the EC when it comes to using it's spare capacity to provide vaccines to individual EU members.

For a start, tell the Greeks to fuck off until they get shot of that blathering harpy.

[misskit]

Government arranges to vaccinate 70% of Thais by end of 2022

BANGKOK (NNT) - The government has arranged to vaccinate 70% of Thais against COVID-19 by the end of 2022, not a whole year later.


Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insisted that every process has been overseen by medical doctors and experts because the government considers public safety of paramount importance.


He said the government is following the COVID-19 vaccine plan, adding that Thailand has the capability to produce the vaccines locally and does not have to worry about competing over vaccines with other countries.


https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/d...10129131801554

[strigils]

^^^ was going to suggest earlier that it would not surprise me if the contract contained the phase "Best Endeavours" which companies use as legalese to provide sufficient wriggle room should things not come to pass.

[strigils]

From the Beeb again suggesting the EU could enact emergency powers to secure vaccine supplies manufactured within its area. It seems they blame the UK, i wonder how they would react if the boot were on the other foot.

Covid: EU publishes disputed AstraZeneca Covid jab contract

Covid: EU publishes disputed AstraZeneca Covid jab contract - BBC News

The EU is likely to unveil special powers later to help ensure its supply of vaccines, including a possible limit on the export of vaccines produced in the bloc.

There is speculation that these powers could also see companies being forced to hand over production to other firms inside the EU and share intellectual property.

However, the European Council is stressing the need for negotiations in order to reach a solution before enforcement becomes necessary.

Meanwhile, EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders has warned of a "vaccine war".

Speaking on Belgian radio, he said: "The EU commission has pushed to co-ordinate the vaccines contracts on behalf of the 27 precisely to avoid a vaccines war between EU countries, but maybe the UK wants to start a vaccine war?

"Solidarity is an important principle of the EU. With Brexit, it's clear that the UK doesn't want to show solidarity with anyone."

[Joe 90]

The EU is in safe hands...

The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Janssen is 66% effective, the Belgian company has announced.


An international trial looked at giving just one dose of the vaccine, which makes it significantly easier to roll out than those requiring two.


The UK has already pre-ordered 30m doses.


The news comes shortly after Novavax announced their jab was 89% effective. Both will need to be reviewed by regulators before they can be used.


Janssen, a pharmaceutical company owned by Johnson & Johnson, is also investigating whether giving two doses will give either stronger or longer-lasting protection.


The company said its initial findings showed one dose prevented 85% of severe cases.


However part of the trial in South Africa, where a new version of the coronavirus is spreading. found it was just 57% effective.


Dr Paul Stoffels, the chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, said that would "potentially protect hundreds of millions of people from serious and fatal outcomes of


Covid-19".


The company is aiming to make one billion doses this year.


The Janssen vaccine uses a common cold virus that has been engineered to make it harmless.


It then safely carries part of the coronavirus's genetic code into the body. This is enough for the body to recognise the threat and then learn to fight coronavirus.


This trains the body's immune system to fight coronavirus when it encounters the virus for real.


This is similar to the approach used by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.

[Joe 90]

[Buckaroo Banzai]

How can someone be legally liable for someone dying of a virus? That would be a funny court case.

Anyway, if you are going to get into a breach of contract dispute, best to have your ducks in a row:

The liability would be under the " failure to deliver contracted services resulting in deaths" I am sure an enterprising lawyer could make a compelling case that if AZ had lived up to their obligations a number of people would not have died. I am not a lawyer and I could.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

^^ Buckaroo, i don't know how this ended as a cat fight but there is no need. We are all feeling the pressure, stay at home, you can't go out, one in a shop a time, wear masks, clean all the stuff you touched and bring it home with you, and clean it, go out once and exercise once each day, saninitise when you get home. If you have kids, clean them, how do you cope with making life fun for kids, how do you cope with teaching kids at home. Puberty: how do you deal with that at home..Kids not interacting - no social skills, deal with that, and on and on....... Chit and Dill in lockdown UK aint easy. Kudos.

Not a cat fight , Strigils, I was just making a joke in reference to my sister. LOL , I take none of these conversations we have seriously. I have an opinion on the subject, if it turns out to be wrong, it would not be the first time. just passing the retired time, and trying to keep the mind sharp. or at least not rusted shut. don't ever worry about me getting bend, I have a pretty thick skin and I f I don't know who I am by now, I never will .
I am just happy when anyone talks to me !!

[strigils]

Here they go...........

Coronavirus: EU confirms export controls on vaccines

Coronavirus: EU confirms export controls on vaccines - BBC News


The European Union has confirmed it is introducing export controls on coronavirus vaccines made in the bloc, amid a row about delivery shortfalls.

"The protection and safety of our citizens is a priority and the challenges we now face left us with no choice but to act," the European Commission said.

The EU is in a very public dispute with drug-maker AstraZeneca over supplies.

The bloc is under growing pressure over the slow pace of vaccine distribution.

The Commission earlier made public a disputed contract with the company to bolster its argument that AstraZeneca is failing to fulfil its promises.

Announcing the export controls, EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides said the measures were being introduced to ensure that all EU citizens had access to vaccines, and make sure all parties played by the rules.

"This approach is built on trust, transparency and responsibility," she said.

"Commitments need to be kept, and agreements are binding. Advance purchase agreements need to be respected.

"Today, we have developed a system which will allow us to know whether vaccines are being exported from the EU. This increased transparency will also come with a responsibility for the EU to authorise, with our members states, these vaccine exports."

[misskit]

Mexico surpasses India in coronavirus death toll | TheHill

[Joe 90]

Today marks exactly one year since the day two Chinese tourists in York were recorded as the UK’s first confirmed coronavirus patients.

Up until that point there had been numerous suspected cases, but none that had been confirmed.

On the evening of 29th January, paramedics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service were called to a hotel in York city centre.

Dressed in white hazmat suits, the ambulance crew told reception staff they were responding to a potential coronavirus case, before heading to a first-floor room.

Public Health England publicly confirmed the two cases on 31st January. It was to be the beginning of a year no one will ever forget.

Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the 100,000+ people who’ve lost their lives to this virus which has changed almost every aspect of our daily lives over the past twelve months.

[harrybarracuda]

The liability would be under the " failure to deliver contracted services resulting in deaths" I am sure an enterprising lawyer could make a compelling case that if AZ had lived up to their obligations a number of people would not have died. I am not a lawyer and I could.

Since the virus results in death anyway, you would have to prove that not getting a vaccine from a particular source was the sole reason.

AZ can simply countersue the fuckwit that waited until three months after the UK to sign a contract.

The only winner in that lawsuit would be any lawyer getting paid to argue it until it dies.

[harrybarracuda]

Today marks exactly one year since the day two Chinese tourists in York were recorded as the UK’s first confirmed coronavirus patients.

Up until that point there had been numerous suspected cases, but none that had been confirmed.

On the evening of 29th January, paramedics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service were called to a hotel in York city centre.

Dressed in white hazmat suits, the ambulance crew told reception staff they were responding to a potential coronavirus case, before heading to a first-floor room.

Public Health England publicly confirmed the two cases on 31st January. It was to be the beginning of a year no one will ever forget.

Our thoughts go out to the loved ones of the 100,000+ people who’ve lost their lives to this virus which has changed almost every aspect of our daily lives over the past twelve months.

A reminder to watch the BBC documentary, the link to which I posted earlier in the thread. It is a fascinating insight into chinky duplicity, and a reminder that the horrible fuckers covered up SARS for three months after they found infections, too.

Just what you want: A nation of bat-and-pangolin munching arseholes most likely to cause the next pandemic being a bunch of secretive wankers about it.

Surely the next Pandemic response plan must be to completely isolate Chinastan from any travel until such times they let a global team of experts in unfettered, to confirm that they have eliminated the bug in question. Time to stop these diseased fuckers spreading their evil bugs around the world.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Since the virus results in death anyway, you would have to prove that not getting a vaccine from a particular source was the sole reason.

AZ can simply countersue the fuckwit that waited until three months after the UK to sign a contract.

The only winner in that lawsuit would be any lawyer getting paid to argue it until it dies.

The above defense of course will not fly unless there was a provision in the contract nullifying or modifying the contract if you did not sign with in three months. The fact that AZ signed with another client in the mean time, is not my concern, it is their responsibility to inform me that since we last talked their situation has changed and our original agreement will need to me modified, at which point I will have the opportunity of either continuing or looking at alternate options.

[harrybarracuda]

The above defense of course will not fly unless there was a provision in the contract nullifying or modifying the contract if you did not sign with in three months. The fact that AZ signed with another client in the mean time, is not my concern, it is their responsibility to inform me that since we last talked their situation has changed and our original agreement will need to me modified, at which point I will have the opportunity of either continuing or looking at alternate options.

I bet you wish you were one of those overpaid lawyers earning fortunes by the hour. But you're not, so it simply takes seconds to do what the judge would love to and say "Oh shut the fuck up, no-one cares and it will never fly".

[harrybarracuda]

So the press are making a thing about the possibility of the EU stopping the UK getting PFizer.

Since they only ordered 40m doses and they've already had a chunk of them, this isn't really going to turn the screw.

Britain has 360m+ doses of vaccine on order, so now would be a good time to perhaps tweak that Fishing deal in return for letting the EU have a few of them.

Perhaps this collecting of whinging eurotrash should be asking Sanofi where the 300m doses they ordered have gone?

[Joe 90]

They want it all their own way, all the time.