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Boris Johnson has warned against imposing restrictions on COVID vaccines after the EU threatened to put controls on the export of doses to Britain.
The prime minister, speaking at a press conference in Downing Street on Tuesday, said he expected the EU to “honor all contracts” in the supply of vaccines to the UK.
“We hope that will happen and we continue to work with friends and partners in the EU and indeed around the world,” Johnson said.
“Because the delivery of the vaccine has been a multinational effort, the creation of the vaccine has been a multinational effort and the delivery of the vaccine is also multinational, because the virus knows no borders.”
On Monday, EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides warned that the bloc would “take whatever action is necessary to protect its citizens and their rights” amid a dispute over the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is produced mainly in the Kingdom. United.
The UK-based company recently told the EU that the initial amount of doses it could supply to the block would be lower than previously thought, due to manufacturing problems.
Kyriakides criticized the “unacceptable” situation and also warned that “clarity” and “full transparency” would be required in the export of vaccines from the EU.
She said that all companies producing COVID vaccines in the EU would now have to provide “early notification” when exporting to third countries.
This has raised fears of restrictions on the supply of the Pfizer vaccine, which is produced in Belgium, to Great Britain.
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The Pfizer vaccine was the first to be used in the UK and the government ordered 40 million doses of the jab.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Johnson said he was aware of Kyriakides’ comments but stressed that he had “complete confidence” in the UK supply of vaccines.
He added: “The creation of these vaccines has been a wonderful example of multinational cooperation.
“One of the lessons the world must learn from the pandemic is the need to cooperate and make sure that we do things together and understand how to fight these pandemics together.
“So I don’t want to see restrictions on the supply of PPE across borders, I don’t want to see restrictions on the supply of medicines across borders, and I don’t want to see restrictions on vaccines or their ingredients across borders.
“I think that’s quite common sense and I’m sure it would also have broad support across the EU.”
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Earlier Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged countries to “collaborate” on the launch of vaccines, saying “protectionism is not the right approach in the midst of a pandemic.”
“I am confident that we can work with the EU to ensure that while transparency is welcome, blockers are not put in place
place, “he said at an event hosted by Chatham House.
“I am confident of the UK vaccine supply. I am confident it will not be interrupted.”
Sir Simon Stevens, executive director of NHS England, told MPs that there is “of course a shortage of supply” of vaccines against the coronavirus.
“If there were unlimited vaccines, then you wouldn’t see what the European Commission said yesterday, you wouldn’t see Italy trying to sue one of the manufacturers, you wouldn’t see Germany in an uproar as it is today,” he said. the health committee of the House of Commons.
“Of course there is a shortage of supply, and we have done very well in this country to get the supply that we have available, the question is how do we use it to the best effect.”
