I think it is too early to make that sort of claim without having a clearer idea as to what the contracts said.
2 Likes
Well yes, that’s what a pre-order is. There were far more doses pre-ordered than the pharma companies were capable of producing within the initial production times. The UK haven’t been given all 40 million doses up front, it’s just not possible nor likely feasible in terms of the storage arrangements that would be needed.
But within those pre-orders there will likely be tiers. Priority would normally be given in the order in which orders were placed. If the UK paid a premium on top to ensure that its pre-orders were not diminished by later orders making claims on parts of their quota then that would be an additional factor on top.
I’d say it demonstrates how Ursula is ill-equipped to deal with any situation, but maybe that just highlights our individual confirmation biases. 
3 Likes
According to AZ the vaccine can be stored in regular fridge for 6 months before use.
And again, I’m talking about the Pfizer one since you cited UK production lines as helping to secure UK supply. The Pfizer one is coming from Belgium and requires storage in deep cooling. Hence contractual commitments being of particular relevance.
The circumstances have given us a massive advantage. Those circumstances being (surprisingly) prompt and seemingly sensible actions from the government.
Some interesting observations here
According to Peston, AZ are already saying that all agreements are signed on a best case terms. They also appear to be disputing the ‘paid more to prioritise’ suggestion, saying that the delay is down to having less time to work through manufacturing and supply problems.
2 Likes
@Dutch what’s reason for the recent/ongoing riot/disturbances?
I guess the main takeaway is that you can’t trust Belgians. Lovely chocolates though.
4 Likes
To be fair, also exempting them from liabilities arising from their vaccine. Fingers crossed, eh.
2 Likes
1 Like
For vaccines now approved by all major countries? Science doesn’t cross its fingers. Did we take a risk? Possibly. Did it work? Yep. If this vaccine ends up killing billions then that’s horrific but it’s not like we had much choice.
Seems to me the government did well and better than any other with regard the vaccine.
Canada has used the same big portfolio approach - we will end up with more vaccines per capita than anyone. But it is fairly striking to compare what the UK is paying when you calculate per dose pricing, it is clear the UK must have paid a significant premium and likely did secure delivery terms.
We are potentially screwed here, as the US is missing about 20 million vaccines (from 40M!) and Europe is threatening to embargo exports. Our 400 million vaccines sound wonderful, but we are getting zero this week. I am not particularly enthusiastic about getting inject 8 times over in 2022.
4 Likes
Delivery terms could easily be in terms of ‘first quarter 2021’, which means zero in January and February, all delivered in the last week of March, would be in contractual compliance. Then the Appendix with the proposed delivery schedule showing a steady stream gets waved about as a triumph, but is not binding.
2 Likes
It is applicable to Pfizer as well - Belgian production. I don’t think anywhere in the world is paying more on a per dose basis than the UK. The EU scheme put a heavy emphasis on buying power, their press releases emphasized price so one would assume the contracts ended up doing so as well.
1 Like
From the article,
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has offered to bring forward some deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union while the bloc has asked the British drugmaker if it can divert doses from the UK to make up for a shortfall in supplies, European officials told Reuters."
[…]
“The EU official involved in the talks also said that the EU had explicitly asked AstraZeneca whether it could divert to the 27-nation bloc doses produced in Britain, at least through March.”
I think the EU are approaching the wrong party here.