Vedum demands that the government consider solo vaccine races – VG

– We demand that Erna Solberg now investigate the possibility of Norway itself buying its own doses of vaccine in addition to European cooperation, Vedum tells VG.

By the end of 2020, Israel had established more than a million doses of vaccines. Now the UK is also approaching 1 million set doses. Both countries have purchased vaccines themselves, in addition to international agreements.

By comparison, Norway, after a recent delivery, received just under 90,000 doses of vaccines from the manufacturer Pfizer, FHI tells TV2.

On Sunday, 2,113 vaccinated were registered.

Read Astrid Meland’s Comment: We don’t have enough vaccines for everyone

Norway receives vaccines through the joint EU scheme and plans to buy different types, depending on which ones are approved in the EU and what effect they have on different population groups.

Vedum: you must examine your own agreements

The SP leader, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, believes that it is going too slow and that Norway cannot simply rely on European cooperation on vaccines.

– I think you have to at least investigate it, then you can decide the offer when it is on the table, says Vedum.

– And you want to ask Erna to do that?

– Yes, I think the government is obliged to continually evaluate this, says Vedum.

– It is quite possible to have two thoughts in your head at the same time. So the government may have to make visible if it has the opportunity to buy and then make an active decision.

There are a total of six vaccines that Norway can access through the EU system: Pfizer / BioNTech candidates, Moderna, Oxford / AstraZeneca, Curevac, Sanofi / GSK and Johnson & Johnson.

In the coming weeks, Norway will receive around 40,000 weekly doses of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. At the same time, Moderna’s vaccine will likely be on the way in a few weeks.

In total, Norway has obtained 7.7 million doses, enough for 3.9 million Norwegians.

When asked if there is no greater need for vaccine doses elsewhere than in Norway, Vedum responds:

– Those most affected by the fact that we vaccinate late in Norway are those who have the most difficulties in Norway. There will be chroniclers and elders.

– Won’t it be a bit like “Norway first”?

– No, I do not mean that. It is the duty of every government to provide sufficient vaccines for its own people. So you have to use the leeway you have for it.

At Politisk kvarter on Monday morning, Health Minister Bent Høie (H) said the government has no plans to establish new contacts with vaccine manufacturers.

– The agreement that we have in the EEA cooperation means that we have a solidarity and that means that each individual country cannot negotiate with it and compete with each other and thus destroy the community.

He also claimed that the government initially explored this possibility with companies, but that at that time it was better for Norway to obtain vaccines through Euro cooperation, given the size of Norway.

Vedum: Look at Great Britain

On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new “lockdown” after a large spike in infection recently. Johnson has said that he believes tens of millions of Britons will be vaccinated in March.

The country approved the first vaccine on December 2 and began vaccination the following week.

– We should not see this as a problem on the part of the Norwegian authorities, rather we should see if there is anything we can learn from the British authorities, says Vedum.

– The point is that those who have had to live more isolated for almost a year should not have to live such an isolated life. It is those who have the worst in Norway now the most affected by the fact that we did not get vaccinated fast enough.

Støre: – Unnecessary interference

APS health policy spokesperson Ingvild Kjerkol told NRK on Tuesday morning that Norway should consider purchasing vaccines.

Labor leader Jonas Gahr Støre will not support Vedum’s demands and is confident that the government will do whatever it takes to get enough vaccines.

– The government ensures that we have enough vaccines, it forces the government to adhere to it. We assume that the government does everything possible to guarantee enough vaccines, Støre tells VG.

At the same time, he says he hopes the government will take the necessary action if one ends up in a situation with too few doses.

– I don’t want to go out now and instruct the government to act one way or another. It’s unnecessary interference in the way they work, says Støre.