The attacks on AstraZeneca are capitalism at its worst
It was Liza Minnelli who in Cabaret sang: ‘Money makes the world go round.’ Given that we live in an era dominated by rampant capitalism this line has never felt more true. Everything in our society is rigged towards trying to make money. We are constantly bombarded by adverts – both overt and subliminal – trying to get us to reach into our pockets.
The temptation to splurge on yet another item is always just one click away.
But perhaps the most overt example of how money makes this world go round can be seen in the way the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine has been treated.
It is the only vaccine being produced at an extremely affordable price and sold at cost, meaning no-one is making huge profits out of it.
You would think this would be something politicians and regulators around the world would be celebrating.
But so far in 2021 all we have seen is AstraZeneca having its name dragged through the mud – both in Europe and in America.
To my surprise, I can’t stop my hackles from rising every time I see the latest attack on the AZ vaccine.
In recent weeks we have had many European countries panic and pull the plug on the vaccine over unsubstantiated fears around blood clots.
Police in Italy have raided AstraZeneca factories as well as threats from the EU commission to stop the export of the AZ vaccine and angry headlines about the company failing to meet orders, when both Pfizer and Moderna have also underdelivered.
Then across the Atlantic, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board launched an unprecedented public attack on the latest AZ trial data – suggesting it ‘might’ have used out of date figures.
Fast forward a couple of days and it was actually slightly more effective in over-65s than the press release had said.
More doubt cast on the AZ vaccine for no reason. I can’t help but feel like there is a pattern developing, with the non-profit vaccine constantly under attack when the for-profit rivals completely avoid the negative headlines.
Perhaps it is time I tracked down a copy of