We can bypass EU ban on jabs
BRITAIN is “not that dependant on the EU” for vaccines and has alternatives if the bloc banned exports, an expert said.
Dr Sarah Schiffling, a senior lecturer in supply chain management at Liverpool John Moores University, said that a stoppage would “have an effect” but she added that the UK has good domestic production.
She said: “We have a lot of supply of AstraZeneca [jabs] within the country.We’re not that dependant on the EU for imports of AstraZeneca.We have been importing a lot of doses of Pfizer vaccine from the EU, [but] this doesn’t seem to be, right now, in the eye of the European Commission.
“So the blockage of AstraZeneca, we have alternative supplies.”
Dr Schiffling said delays in deliveries from the Serum Institute of India might affect the UK, if problems persist.
She told Sky News: “From what we’re hearing right now, second doses are all secure but we will have to see how that goes in the future.”
Dr Schiffling stressed that supply issues were a global problem. Delays to exports from India have caused a “massive reduction” in doses for theWorld Health Organisation’s Covax scheme for lower income countries, she said.
“It’s not a question of one country [or] one bloc of countries, managing the supply chain and all parts of this.
“We do need to be working together and hopefully we can come to this win-win situation where we can all be happy to be sharing vaccines and access to the materials.
“We have a lot of countries around the world that still haven’t seen vaccinations.”