[ad_1]
Image source,EPA
WHO calls for vaccines to be distributed fairly.
Due to the recent controversy over restrictions on the export of the new corona vaccine in the EU, the World Health Organization (WHO) criticized that the EU approach may lead to the risk of prolonging the epidemic.
WHO Deputy Director-General Mariangela Simao said the EU’s approach is worrying.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, also previously said that this nationalistic approach to vaccines can delay the recovery of normal society.
Dr. Tedros also said that this practice of stockpiling vaccines will not only further exacerbate global inequality and loss of moral outcomes, but will also fuel the spread of the epidemic and slow the recovery of the world economy.
EU vaccineExport pipeWhat about control?
Image source,fake images
EU Health Commissioner Kyria Kiddes explained that they had no other choice.
The disputes caused by the shortage of vaccines have led the European Union to decide to implement measures to control exports of vaccines produced in the European Union.
If vaccine companies fail to honor existing contracts with the EU, this so-called transparent mechanism gives EU countries the right to restrict exports of vaccines.
The European Commission declared that protecting and maintaining the safety of EU citizens is their top priority and challenge, so they have no other choice.
EU export restrictions will affect 100 countries around the world, including the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, but many other countries, including some poorer countries, are not subject to this restriction.
The EU insists that this control measure is a temporary plan and not an export ban.
After strong protests in London and Dublin, the European Union was forced to cancel plans to restrict vaccine exports at the Irish border.
Time and background
Image source,Reuters
The Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine supply issue is part of the cause of the vaccine dispute.
The EU’s introduction of export restrictions on vaccines comes at a time when it has a public dispute with AstraZeneca Vaccine Company due to supply problems, and the EU faces increasing pressure from slow distribution of vaccines.
The European Union also announced on Friday (29) a secret supply contract signed by AstraZeneca, a joint venture between it and the United Kingdom and Sweden, to back up its argument and show that AstraZeneca failed to meet its commitments to the EU. AstraZeneca is the Oxford vaccine manufacturer in the UK.
According to new EU regulations, vaccine companies must first fulfill their commitments to the EU before they can export vaccines to countries outside the EU. Otherwise, the 27 EU member states will have the right to restrict exports of vaccines.
For example, Pfizer vaccines produced in Belgium are currently exported to the UK and the European Union insists that some AstraZeneca vaccines produced in England must be administered to EU citizens in accordance with the contract.
AstraZeneca said the problem was the delay in vaccine production in Belgium and the Netherlands and the late signing of the contract.
The EU and Pfizer Vaccines also had a dispute over the expected supply delay. At the end of March, there will be a shortage of vaccines that Pfizer will supply to the European Union. Pfizer explained that this was due to the emergency expansion of its facilities in Belgium.
Who is not subject to EU export restrictions?
EU vaccine exports also have some countries and organizations exempted, including Switzerland, Norway, some countries in the Western Balkans and North Africa, and the New Crown Global Vaccine Guarantee Facility (Covax). The Covax program aims to help poor countries obtain vaccination programs.
Explaining EU export restrictions, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides stated that this approach is based on trust, transparency and accountability to ensure that EU citizens are vaccinated and that all parties follow the rules.
However, Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, said vaccine disputes between wealthy countries are worrisome, especially when medical workers and high-risk groups in other countries of the world face long waits. by vaccines.
The World Health Organization urges the equitable distribution of vaccines, first to meet the needs of the world’s medical personnel and groups with urgent needs, and then to promote vaccination in all countries.
Internal pressure in the EU
Katya Adler, the BBC’s European Affairs editor, said governments in some EU countries have started to show impatience with officials in Brussels at EU headquarters. Originally, Brussels hoped that the EU vaccine procurement plan could become a symbol of the EU’s unity and strength.
But he did not expect that the difficult negotiation process, the delay in the approval of vaccines by EU medical regulatory agencies, and the delay in delivery of vaccines would cause EU citizens to lose patience and demand the EU to submit responses and take action.
Markus Söder, who is likely to become Germany’s chancellor in the future, previously said in an interview with the media that the EU ordered too late and only bet on a few vaccine companies, and completely underestimated the importance of the situation.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said via Twitter that he does not want the European Union to lead the world down the destructive path of vaccine nationalism. He said that the success story of continental Europe has always been one of the open global value chains.
Anglo-European politics
The BBC’s European affairs correspondent, Gavin Lee, analyzed that the EU originally wanted to turn the relevant measures into a transparent mechanism, but it became an export control policy.
Gavin Lee said this is partly because the German government insists that EU countries have the right to decide whether vaccines produced in the EU can be exported outside the EU.
At the same time, it is also due to the EU’s deeply skeptical mistrust of the vague explanation for AstraZeneca’s vaccine supply shortage. AstraZeneca said the supply shortage is due to its low productivity at the Belgian pharmaceutical factory.
Gavin Lee said that EU vaccine export restrictions may also affect UK vaccine supplies.
Because according to the new regulations, Pfizer vaccines have to fill out an export form before being shipped to the UK and then wait 48 hours for the Belgian government to approve them. As to whether the Belgian government approves that it can be exported to the UK, it depends on whether it will affect the existing supply contract with the EU.
