Is the criticism of AstraZeneca unfair?

CITY Correspondent Matt Oliver reported on the dismay felt by AstraZeneca executives at the criticism of their efforts to produce a Covid-19 vaccine in record time. I wish to express my appreciation of their efforts along with the achievement of the Oxford University team. The sniping by the EC and European leaders is unfair. It isn’t surprising AstraZeneca feels it may not wish to contribute in another emergency. The fact it has delivered millions of doses at cost price while other companies have made big profits is all the more galling. I would happily have paid for the AstraZeneca vaccine I received.

Name supplied, Sandy, Beds. I AM enraged at the criticism of AstraZeneca. It has sacrificed £21 billion in lost revenue by providing the Covid vaccine at cost price. We should hail a company whose generous gesture has been a one-off in an era of greed, not gloss over its heroic efforts.

DIANE WILKINSON, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks. CAN I reassure the AstraZeneca management that very many of us are extremely grateful for the quick development of a successful vaccine and for ensuing costs were kept low. KAREN CARTWRIGHT, Redditch, Worcs. IT’S not surprising that the AstraZeneca vaccine has been questioned and belittled. It lacks one vital ingredient: greed. Other countries want the billions in revenue and power that comes with the ability to choose which company to supply a Covid vaccine. If AstraZeneca became the vaccine of choice due to its lower cost, other suppliers’ revenue and power would disappear. So that’s why it’s undermined at every opportunity.

ASTRAZENECA has shown a philanthropic attitude when the world found itself in a terrible situation. The EU’s dog-in-a-manger attitude is disgraceful.

STEPHEN GERRARD, York. ALL of mankind owes a debt of gratitude to AstraZeneca that we can never repay.

J. BALMFORTH, Fleetwood, Lancs.