UK to Brexit-proof Pfizer vaccines

London, Dec. 7: Britain said on Monday that plans are being put in place to ensure the transportation of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 is not affected in the event of no agreement being clinched with the European Union by the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.

The first vaccine doses have been arriving from Pfizer's manufacturing site in Belgium after the UK's independent regulator gave the official go-ahead for its rollout from this week. However, the bulk of the supply is expected in the New Year and the UK's Road Haulage Association has warned that a failure to agree an EUUK post-Brexit trade deal by the end of this month could see "significant disruption" to the flow of goods for many months.

"We have looked at use of non-commercial flights, we've got border arrangements in place," Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told UK media outlets in reference to Brexit-proofing vaccine supplies. This could "potentially" involve the armed forces being deployed if required, as the minister added: "This is such an important product, it's probably perhaps the most important product, so we will look to ensure that those supplies are available in the UK in whatever circumstance."

The UK and EU are locked in last-ditch efforts to try and thrash out an agreement that can be ratified by all 27 EU members before the December-end deadline. Significant differences over fishing rights and business competition rules remain the main stumbling blocks but both sides have said there is still time to agree a pact.