Slower with vaccines, but EU acts as ‘bloc’

THE UK is often credited with “winning the vaccine war” against our European neighbours. However, the success of our vaccines roll-out is due largely to our public services, to the NHS and to many volunteers: by contrast the private company contracted by our government to run the test, track and isolate programme has signally failed.

Though the UK got off the mark quickly in securing orders for vaccines, it did in fact pay over the odds and agreed to waive civil liability in the event of any adverse effects.

The EU has been slower off the mark but has acted as a bloc, deciding that no country should be at a disadvantage and it has procured vaccines at reasonable prices while refusing to exempt manufacturers from civil liability.

Countries where the virus has spread widely, like Brazil and the

UK, have, unfortunately, encouraged variants which may limit the efficacy of existing vaccines.

The South African variant, for instance, which reached the UK almost two months ago, may cut the protection offered by the Pfizer vaccine by as much as two thirds.

Meanwhile the variant recently identified in Kent is proving a “world-beater”, having already reached New Zealand and been largely responsible for the huge spike in January cases in Portugal, with the result that UK citizens from that country now have to quarantine at exorbitant cost in hotels whose air-flow systems could spread the virus.

While the UK failed to control the virus at its borders for over a year, EU nations have often worked together. Thus Germany has not only taken patients from overwhelmed Italian hospitals but has recently sent doctors to hard-hit Portugal, currently suffering from the UK variant.

The virus clearly knows no borders. If there is a war, it is against the virus and we all need allies.

Michael Temple

Sidmouth