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Britain, which has suffered thousands of deaths from the pandemic, is opening the door to the “coronavirus vaccination” operation in Europe, approving the Pfizer / BionTech vaccine through rapid procedures. The British government has announced that the vaccination of health, in the first stage and of vulnerable groups in the second stage, will begin from next week, while, according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson In his sermon to the British people, the vaccination process will take several months. The first trucks have already departed from Brussels with the doses of the vaccine, bound for Great Britain and warehouses, from where they will be distributed to vaccination centers throughout the island.
Russia, who introduced it, entered the world … vaccination rally with force Sputnik V at the UN, with Vladimir Putin ordering the Russian government to begin vaccinating the population starting next week.
The “study” – as they called it – of Great Britain, however, to approve before the authorities of the European Union the production and use of the Pfizer / BionTech vaccine, provoked the reaction of the Europeans, however, showing that the British have already begun to operate autonomously from the rest of Europe, being in the twilight of their presence in the European family.
Important and perhaps indicative of the calendar that Europe will follow, was the announcement of the Belgians, who announced that if there are no delays and the vaccine is approved, vaccination in the Central European country will begin on January 5.
Because the rest of Europe is reacting
EU countries criticize Downing Street’s remarks about the vaccine launch. THE British government argues that thanks to Brexi The UK became the first Western country to approve the use of the coronavirus vaccine, a statement criticized as “pharmaceutical nationalism».
«Although until the beginning of this year we were members of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), thanks to Brexit we were able to make a decision based on the British regulatory authorities and not at the pace of the Europeans, who go a little more slowly“Said the Minister of Health. Matt hancock after the “Green light” in the vaccine of the US-German consortium Pfizer / BioNTech.
«We all do the same security checks and follow the same procedures, but we managed to speed up the process thanks to Brexit“Added the minister.
The UK has left the European Union On January 31, but during the transitional period, until the end of this year, it is still subject to European regulations.
Due to Brexit, the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, he was forced to move from London to Amsterdam in March 2019 with its 900 employees.
It should be noted, however, that in a statement the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency (MHRA) tried to tone it down, emphasizing that European legislation allows the UK to grant a temporary license to a medicine, if it is necessary for health public. .
«We have been able to announce the supply of the vaccine as a result of the conditions set out in European legislation and in force until January 1“Said June Raine, MHRA director, in a press conference she gave.
“The important thing is not to be the first”
On Twitter, Entrepreneurship Minister Alok Sarma welcomed the fact that Britain is “the first country” to sign an agreement with Pfizer / BioNTech and will begin to administer the vaccine. «For years to come, we will remember this time until the day the UK took on humanity’s burden against this disease.Argument.
Andreas Michaelis, German ambassador to London, did not like this triumphant statement: “Why is it so difficult to recognize this significant progress as a great international success and endeavor?He asked himself.
«The important thing is not to be the first, but to have a safe and effective vaccine “German Health Minister Jens Spann commented, noting that, unlike Europeans, London had chosen to approve «urgent use». Furthermore, he explained that the “successIt is not so “British”, as the German biotechnology company BioNTech “was funded by the EU”.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declined to comment on the Health Minister’s remarks. «What matters is that we are the first country in the world to approve this vaccine and this was done thanks to the methodical work of MHRA».
London and Brussels are negotiating for months your new business relationship, once the transitional period ends on January 1. In case they go nowhere, or there are delays at the border, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, which is made in Belgium, can be flown to Britain, Hancock told the BBC.
Germany’s reaction
Dissatisfaction with the German government has been caused by vaccine approval rate of companies Biontech and Pfizer against coronavirus, at a time when Berlin plans to expand part emergency shutdown at least until January 10.
“This is our base, from which we will not walk away even in the pandemic,” said deputy government spokeswoman Ulrike Demer. Vaccine approval procedures applied by the European Union. Europe’s Minister Jens Span also defended European procedures, noting that “the issue is not to be first, but to have an effective and safe vaccine.” However, he stressed that the process must move “as quickly as possible.”
Along the same lines, the German ambassador in London, Andreas Michaelis, reacted to a publication by the secretary general of the British Ministry of Energy and Economy, Alok Sarma, who wrote on Twitter that “Great Britain was the first country to sign a contract with Bizertech and now it is the first country to start vaccinating ”, he emphasized:“Why is it so difficult to recognize this step forward as a wonderful international effort and success?“Although the German company Biontech has made a decisive contribution to the creation of the vaccine, it is not a national issue, but a European and transatlantic one,” added the German diplomat. Earlier, British Health Minister Matt Hancock had cited Brexit as a key factor in making the vaccine available in Britain faster than in the EU.
The British “study” was also condemned by the health expert of the Parliamentary Group of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) in the European Parliament, Peter Lize, saying that “a more comprehensive exam is better than a hasty emergency approval». Mr. Lize, a physician himself, described the hasty approval as “an attempt to distract attention from the Johnson administration’s failures in the coronavirus crisis.”
For his part, the “vaccine euphoria” was mentioned by the head of the Standing Committee on Vaccines (Stiko) Thomas Mertens, who, speaking to the Rheinische Post, warned that “It will take some time to carefully examine the information required for approval.He stressed that the vaccination of the entire population in Germany will not be completed by the end of 2021. “Even if we can to vaccinate 150,000-200,000 people a day, it will take 100 days to vaccinate up to 15 million people“Clarified Mr. Martens.
Today, however, Reuters reported that, according to government sources, the lockdown that took effect on November 2 will continue until at least January 10, especially for catering companies. The relevant decisions are expected to be made in mid-December, while the Chancellor’s first teleconference ‘Angela Merkel with the prime ministers of the states for 2021 is expected on January 4. The main concern of the government, according to BILD, is the possibility of an increase in cases after the temporary relaxation of the restrictions, which is scheduled for the period from December 20 to January 1.
Johnson: the vaccine meets the conditions
The British Prime Minister gave a press conference a while ago, accompanied by senior health officials Boris johnson, shortly after United Kingdom became the first Western country to adopt the vaccine against coronavirus companies Pfizer Y BioNTech.
The British Prime Minister said the UK has bought 40 million doses vaccines and distribution will begin on next week.
Johnson assured the British that the vaccine delivered more stringent health and safety requirements cast priority Vaccination will be provided to the elderly in care centers, health and social workers, as well as clinically vulnerable people.
However, the British Prime Minister noted that the availability of the vaccine will be a “Great logistical challenge”, due to factors such as the temperature at which it must be stored, and therefore it will take a few months to get vaccinated citizens belonging to these groups.
He also highlighted that the prospect of vaccination “It shouldn’t make us overly optimistic.”
“Inevitably, it will take a few months to protect the most vulnerable, long and cold months, so it is even more important that as we celebrate this scientific achievement, we do not get too optimistic or fall into the naive belief that the fight is over.” he affirmed.
“Our plan is based on the fact that we will all continue to make sacrifices for those we love.” Johnson added, calling on all those in the “red” areas, based on the British system, to enforce the restrictions.
However, he assured that the back to normal next year it is no longer hope. “We can be sure that it will happen and that we can get our lives back.” finished.
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