EU regulators have proposed requiring drug manufacturers to signal exports of coronavirus vaccines, a move that could disrupt photo deliveries by Pfizer and BioNTech.
Photographer: Nathan Laine / Bloomberg
Photographer: Nathan Laine / Bloomberg
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warns European Union against “protectionism” after bloc bloc regulators proposed drug manufacturers should report exports of coronavirus vaccines.
The EU measure could disrupt deliveries of Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE images, which are made in Belgium. The AstraZeneca Plc vaccine is manufactured in the UK and authorized for production abroad.
The UK is leading Europe in coronavirus vaccinations, with 6.6 million people – about 10% of the UK population – receiving a first dose on Sunday. There is growing anger in the EU over delivery delays AstraZeneca, which expects to deliver fewer photos on the mainland in the first quarter than previously expected.
“I am pleased to say that I am confident – after talking to the CEOs of Pfizer and AstraZeneca – that I am confident in providing the vaccine in the UK; I am confident that this will not be interrupted, “Hancock said at a webinar in London on Tuesday. “But I would urge all international partners to work together and work closely together. And I think protectionism is not the right approach in the midst of a pandemic. ”
At the event, organized by the Chatham House research institute, Hancock was asked several times about Britain’s international reputation after the country advanced before the vaccines were launched. The South African government has complained of “vaccine apartheid” and “the gulf of inequity” in agreements signed by pharmaceutical companies with richer countries.
“As UK health secretary, it is my duty to protect the UK population,” he said as he defended the British government’s strategy.
London will push for standardization of research methods across countries so that disease data can be more easily distributed, Hancock said. The UK, which is currently chairing the G7 group of industrialized nations, is also offering a way to assess Covid’s move abroad, along with funding aid to poorer countries as part of its international effort, he said.
The UK aims to provide vaccines to around 15 million people in the top 4 priority groups by 15 February. This includes home care residents over the age of 70 and health care workers.
(Add comments from Matt Hancock starting with the first paragraph)