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A British government minister said the UK won the race to approve a COVID-19 vaccine because it is a “better country”, which threatens to further deteriorate relations with European partners at a critical time for negotiations on the future. post-Brexit.
“We have the best people in this country and obviously we have the best medical regulator, much better than the French, much better than the Belgians, much better than the Americans,” Education Minister Gavin Williamson told Radio. LBC. “It doesn’t surprise me at all, because we are a much better country than any of them.”
This is the moment that Gavin Williamson said @NickFerrariLBC the UK was the first to approve a vaccine because “we are a much better country”pic.twitter.com/1PtkOJ1CeB
– Rachael Venables (@rachaelvenables) December 3, 2020
The remarks come shortly after another Boris Johnson executive minister, Minister of Economy, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, spoke of the decision to approve the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, which was developed in the United States and Germany. – was a sign that “the UK led humanity’s attack on this disease”.
The statement drew criticism from the German ambassador in London, who, on Twitter, argued that the development and approval of the vaccine is not a national problem.
“Why is it so difficult to recognize this important progress as a great international effort and success?” Wrote Andreas Michaelis on the social network. “I don’t think this is a national story. Although the German company BioNTech has made a crucial contribution, it is a European and transatlantic problem.”
The comments from British government officials come as the deadline for an understanding between the UK and the EU on the future trade relationship is approaching, and when France, one of the countries downplayed by the Minister for Education, is threatening to veto an agreement.
The United Kingdom intends to start vaccinating the population from next week, having obtained the green light from the regulator yesterday for the use of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine against covid-19.
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