Should Britain share its surplus Covid vaccines with poorer countries?

I AGREE with the Prime Minister that we should help out poorer nations with our surplus Covid jabs. However, this shouldn’t happen until everyone in this country has received their second jab. Then we should help Commonwealth nations as we would be able to make sure they administrate the vaccine fairly across their population. And we should

reclaim the cost from the foreign aid budget.

ANDREW WHITTLE, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

HOW can a country be accused of hoarding vaccines that have not yet been produced? Britain put in orders for different vaccines before we knew which ones would be fit for use. We also don’t know if booster shots will be required against new mutations. Giving away 5 per cent of our supplies may

be a good soundbite, but it’s far better to fund the building of vaccine manufacturing plants. In fact, Britain has done this by funding upfront the whole process for pharmaceutical firms that might not have risked the financial loss for a failed vaccine.

BEN DAVIS, Lincoln.

THERE is competition between various countries for vaccines and criticism of Britain for ordering more than we can use. Do politicians fear a nationalistic, Brexiteer backlash from voters if they suggest giving ‘our’ vaccine to the elderly vulnerable in refugee camps? Meanwhile, Russia and China are exporting vaccines to Turkey. Nationalism is a childish refusal to co-operate with other countries. It is not the same as patriotism — ethical beliefs based on our pride in what Britain has contributed to the world.

C. N. WESTERMAN, Brynna, Mid Glam.

It Is altruistic of the Government to give away surplus vaccine to developing countries. I hope the cost will be taken from the foreign aid budget.

B. THOMAS, Billingshurst, W. Sussex. WHY not send any spare vaccines to the Commonwealth. Many of these countries don’t have the monetary clout to get to the top of the list in ordering jabs. They have come to our aid over the years so it is only right that we return the favour.

KATE BEATY, Meriden, W. Mids.

WHY is the Government wobbling like jellies about whether it should raid our vaccine supplies? Wait until everyone in this country has been vaccinated. JOHN EVANS, Wokingham, Berks.