VACCINE’S SPEEDY RELEASE MAY PROFFER US DRUG FIRM ITS POUND OF FLESH

THIS WILL not be popular because pessimists never are, but forgive and read on. It is regretfully true that panic and euphoria share this – neither are based on logic or researched facts but both on raw emotion.

As our national Covid panic morphs into vaccine euphoria three niggling questions nag at my sceptical mind.

One is the blistering speed with which the habitual tests required of a new drug before it is shoved into our veins have been telescoped to allow passage of the Pfizer product. Why do others take so long if it can be safely done in half the time?

What cannot be denied is that Pfizer has spent staggering money on this medication and even more on the huge quantities already manufactured and wants it all back with even bigger profits. Another is the fact that two or three rivals are coming up right behind Pfizer and might be better – or just as good but at a fraction of the American price.

There is a British- invented vaccine from Oxford due any day, still undergoing testing. There is the Australian product Ivermectin which is dirt cheap because it is out of patent and instantly available.

Why do we hear nothing? Has there been a quiet and covert decision to ignore them, and if so, why? Thirdly the Pfizer vacc is weird in that it has to be stored at minus 70 degrees or in three days it goes off.

That must present nightmarish extra precautions, all of which cost money and time.

So why are we not looking at anything else? Is someone going to become rather wealthy rather quickly? In that world of deadly rivalry many things are possible.