the (real) big mistake made by Italy

Based on what is happening in Europe, one almost thinks that the vaccination campaign orchestrated by Italy is more of a media operation than an attempt to immunize the Italian population in the shortest possible time. However you look at it, the Giallorossi government plan shows limits and flaws. Beginning with synchronization, aspect probably overlooked thinking that Brussels was able to direct the European solidarity orchestra for anti-Covid vaccines.

This was not the case, since the European Union was charged with dealing with the pharmaceutical companies on behalf of each member country, he immediately stumbled on a serious mistake. According to what has been reconstructed by the German media, the EU has made an error of appreciation – if it can be defined as such -, committing the purchase of 340 million doses of the antidotes produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, the most advanced in circulation.

Indeed, it appears that Europe wanted to divide the slices of the vaccine pie in such a way as to ensure a proper share of the deal for all pharmaceutical companies in the race. Unfortunately, the Sanofi French found a problem with theirs. vaccine, they raised the white flag and the house of cards built by Europe instantly collapsed. Beyond this matter, rigorously denied by the European Commission, there are among the member countries those who have reasoned with their own heads.

A race against time

This is the case, for example, of the Germany. Which, in addition to receiving a series of vaccines in line with the quota system developed by Brussels (55.8 million units), has signed a bilateral agreement with Pfizer-Biontech to obtain 30 million extra doses and has managed to bring home, in view of V-day, more than 150 thousand doses (compared to the 9,750 symbolic vaccines distributed in most European countries).

Why did Angela Merkel break the European solidarity pact? Simple: German experts, after having made a couple of calculations, realized that, respecting the purchasing methods decided by the EU, Berlin probably would not have been able to achieve the much desired group immunity for next fall. Hence the backlash from the German government.

Facilities and production

In terms of vaccines, Italy runs the risk of getting stuck in the game. Still keeping Germany in mind, German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced that the federal government would step up production Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in your territory. In other words, Berlin will do everything possible to facilitate the operation of new ones. installations. There was talk of a Novartis factory recently acquired by BioNTech in Marburg, Hesse. The stable, currently undergoing restructuring, between February and March should be able to produce precious extra doses.

Back in Italy, our country could have tried to convince one of the pharmaceutical companies in the race to produce the vaccine on Italian territory. How? Putting one at your disposal production plant (as Germany is doing now). Vaccines would have come from that factory for Europe but also -obviously paying- “extra doses” for Italy.

Of course, some investments would have been necessary to create such a plan. means; first to set up a factory for production, then to buy a number of doses in advance (a risk to run). This was not done. Truth be told, even if he wanted to, theItaly maybe he couldn’t even count on a charismatic person capable of convincing a giant like Pfizer or Moderna to produce the anti-Covid vaccine in Italy.