The argument over vaccine supply is growing, how hot will it get?
Countries in the EU were apparently getting ready to purchase vaccine deliveries when they were persuaded to act as one (better together). However this seems to have delayed orders.
A lot of people have been talking about the number of doses of vaccine bought by rich countries. The EU have ordered 2 times the number of doses than they need. But as I pointed out a couple of times these are not guaranteed and not guaranteed soon. In fact even if the total number of doses expected are delivered the EU may not be able to vaccinate all of their population this year.
Now the vaccine supplies of the vaccines being produced in Europe (Pfizer) for the current roll out are dropping behind schedule and vaccinations are stopping because of limited supply.
And then comes along the news that the vaccine that has not yet been produced may not be available as quickly as possible. So the EC are jumping up and down demanding more of a vaccine they have not yet approved.
It all sounds like a bit of a mess. It sounds like the EC underestimated the risks when ordering supply. But this shouldn’t be first come first served they say (as far as countries ahead of them are concerned – of course their supply should not go to those poor countries that have not yet ordered).
I smell blind panic – and maybe justified. It would be hard if the EC fail to deliver and their ordering process is blamed. It would be very hard indeed for the EC to cope with a failure to meet the EU needs while a recent EU exit like the UK managed to deliver. The effect of that on the EC could be massive and would probably shake the EU to its roots. It would almost certainly roll back the centralisation of power in Europe.
Oh and some people might die.
So I predict this will get very hot – I think the EC are fighting for their lives.