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Original title: In addition to prevention and control, both the UK and the EU are putting more hope in vaccines
Regardless of how many simulations and trials were conducted in response to the “no-deal Brexit,” it wasn’t until the border between Britain and France was suddenly and truly closed for 48 hours due to the new corona epidemic that the outside world became clearly realized that the UK and the European Union did not actually do so. Prepare for a substantial “no-deal Brexit” in the UK. Less than 10 days before the expiration of the transition period for Brexit, the change in epidemic situation in the UK has given both the UK and the EU a taste of “hard Brexit” in advance.
On December 14 local time, British Health Secretary Matthew Hancock declared that a new mutated coronavirus is spreading in parts of England. The next day, Hancock said in an interview that only by restricting social contact can the spread of the new corona virus be controlled. These British statements have unleashed a “domino” effect. Since 20, many countries have announced measures such as border closures and the suspension of flights to and from the UK.
The “stress response” of European countries is in stark contrast to the passive anti-epidemic performance in the initial stage of the new corona pneumonia epidemic. The tortuous and repeated epidemic situation has allowed European leaders to place more hope in the new crown vaccine as well as reinforce prevention and control measures.
On December 21, the President of the European Commission, Von der Lein, stated that the European Union formally approved the use of the new corona vaccine (“Pfizer’s new corona vaccine”) developed jointly by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd. of the United States. States and the German biotech company. Hours earlier, Pfizer’s new corona vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency. It is worth noting that the European Medicines Agency announced the audit results more than a week earlier than originally planned on December 29. In the next few days, the first batch of vaccines will be shipped from Pfizer’s production base in Belgium. “This is the news we have been waiting for,” said Italian Health Minister Speranza, “the new corona vaccine has given us more strength and confidence.”
Reuters previously analyzed that the approval and distribution of the new crown vaccine will test Brussels’ ability to “unify Europe” under political pressure to accelerate the political process and respond to the pandemic. Von der Lein has confirmed that the distribution of the vaccine will follow the principle of equity and will be provided to all EU countries at the same time and under the same conditions. The vaccine will also be distributed to all 27 EU countries based on population rather than wealth, with each country paying the same price. The governments of Germany, France, Italy, Austria and other countries have declared that they plan to start mass vaccination on December 27.
European Union policy makers described the launch of the vaccine as an opportunity to demonstrate the unity of the European Union in the face of the virus threat. The UK, in the final stage of Brexit, first refused to join the European Union’s new coronavirus vaccination program in July and then chose to vaccinate. “Snatch”. As the first Western country to approve the use of the new crown vaccine, the British government approved the emergency use of the new crown vaccine from Pfizer on December 2. On December 8, the largest vaccination plan in British history was officially launched. According to Johnson’s report on December 21, more than 500,000 people in the UK have been vaccinated against the new crown.
Hancock was in tears as he spoke of the British people beginning to receive the new crown vaccine and declared that he was “proud to be British.” As the Brexit deadline approaches, such arguments have sparked strong discontent among European countries. The BBC reported that, in fact, Brexit did not promote speedy approval of Pfizer’s new crown vaccine. Although the UK officially left the European Union in January last year, the UK still has to comply with EU regulations before the transition period ends on December 31. The British health regulator only used emergency power that all EU member states can use.
At a time when skepticism and misinformation are rampant, the EU’s drug regulatory agency is cautiously critical of Britain’s actions. On the second day after the UK officially launched Pfizer’s new crown vaccination job, two health workers from the British National Health Service (NHS) developed allergic symptoms after being exposed. To ease public anxiety, the British Medicines and Health Products Administration updated the official guidelines on the use of Pfizer’s new corona vaccine for the first time, considering that anyone with a history of vaccines, drugs or food allergies is unsuitable for injections. Some media outlets have also started popularizing the difference between general allergies and fatal anaphylactic shock, citing data from phase III trials of the Pfizer vaccine and the Modena vaccine to explain that fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches are common phenomena. Medical experts believe that, like the possible side effects of flu shots, this may mean that the vaccinated person’s body is responding to the vaccine.
As for the current situation, like the EU, Pfizer’s new corona vaccine is currently the only option available in the UK. Although the UK has ordered 7 million doses of the Modena vaccine, the US government has an exclusive agreement on the Modena vaccine, and it is expected that there will be no breakthrough in the delivery of the Modena vaccine. before the beginning of next spring. Furthermore, another new “European” crown vaccine jointly developed by France’s Sanofi and Britain’s GlaxoSmithKline has recently postponed research and development work due to unqualified immune responses in elderly subjects. Expected to wait until the end of 2021. Listed.
The issue of the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the new coronavirus has also become a hot topic of discussion overnight. Johnson took the initiative to emphasize on December 19 that the new corona vaccine is still effective against the virus. On the 21st, Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergency project, said not to be too alarmed by new changes. Everything is a “normal” part of the evolution of the new coronavirus pandemic, and the situation has not been “out of control.” This statement is obviously different from the statement made by British Health Secretary Hancock about the epidemic “out of control” two days ago. Ruian said that so far, the epidemic and changes in the virus have not been unexpected, and there has been no significant impact on the crown’s new drugs, therapies, test methods and vaccines. Sahin, director of the German Biotechnology Company, also stated on the 22nd that Pfizer’s new corona vaccine is not affected by the new corona virus in any way. Even if a new vaccine is needed, the company can produce it and provide the vaccine in 6 weeks.
In view of the bleak outlook for vaccine supply, more and more people are calling on the EU to approve the Oxford vaccine, which is easier to produce and transport at refrigerator temperature, to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The UK has ordered 100 million doses of Oxford vaccine and 4 million doses have entered the country.
Various surveys show that, whether in the UK or EU countries, the proportion of respondents who are willing to receive the new vaccination crown can always be kept at more than half. With the trend to “gamble” on vaccines that has emerged in Britain and Europe, many people have also issued warnings. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that the arrival of the new corona vaccine allows people to see “the light at the end of the tunnel.” “But only when the epidemic ends at the same time in all places can we really end the epidemic. This means that it must be for all countries. Some people are vaccinated, not all in certain countries.” Tan Desai stressed that the vaccine will not replace existing tools to stop the spread of the new coronavirus and save lives, but rather a useful supplement.
The traditional Christmas and New Year holidays in the West have begun. The travel ban brought on by the changes in the epidemic is more of a wake-up call for both Britain and Europe. But in the final analysis, proactive compliance with epidemic prevention regulations is what people on both sides of the English Channel should do most seriously.
Our newspaper, Beijing, December 23
China Youth Daily · China Youth Daily reporter Ma Ziqian Source: China Youth Daily
Version 09 on December 24, 2020
