Britain has warned the European Union against halting the export of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines while saying that this move would be counterproductive. The Defence Secretary of the UK, Ben Wallace, said that the world is watching how European Union handles the shortfall of promised vaccine deliveries.
The EU Chief Ursula von der Layen has warned the Anglo-Swedish pharma giant to expect the export ban on AstraZeneca vaccine if the company fails to deliver a total of 90 million doses of vaccines in the first quarter of 2021. AstraZeneca has provided only 30% of the promised 90 million doses. European Union is struggling with its vaccination campaign while the Belgium-based company has delivered the jabs as per the contract while keeping the support short on the continent.
UK authorities said that “If contracts get broken, and undertakings, that is a very damaging thing to happen for the trading block that prides itself on the rule of law. It is counterproductive because vaccine production and manufacturer is collaborative.” Ben Wallace added that it would undermine own citizens getting the jabs, and the EU will find it hard to change the damage to the reputation of the EU around the world.
This ongoing row over the vaccine comes as UK’s inoculation campaign hits new heights. The British government has announced that half of the adult population has received the first dose of vaccine and called it “a huge success.” However. With the short supply of vaccines from Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, means the next phase of vaccination in the UK will get delayed by at least a month.
Meanwhile, PM Boris Johnson said that the new vaccine rollout with 873,000 people receiving their dose in a single day is a team effort in the best of Britain and thanked the British public for coming forward.
