Astrazeneca/Oxford vaccine approved

[Noggin]

Woohoo. I have a prescription for the vaccine. Sadly the Doctor who owns the practice in my bit of the resort has decided not to be one of the doctors to give the vaccine (the locum I saw - who is a fair bit younger than the owning doctor - said he wouldn't comment on that decision - which was enough of a comment!! ).

The nearest centre is in Bourg so about 45 ish mins away. Now to try and get an appointment

[Supermofo]

Think we are really lucky here. I got a text from my GP and booked an appointment and the centre was 5 mins away. To be fair though I'd have driven 45 mins for it.

[irie]

War? The Aussie's appear to be quite understanding of the situation, given that they recently received a batch of 300,000 and have only had 3 Covid deaths since the start of November. Sorry to disappoint you

From the beeb

Australia said it had already received a shipment of 300,000 doses and planned to begin local production next month.
"Domestic production starts with 1 million [doses] per week of deliveries from late March and is on track," said Health Minister Greg Hunt.
"This [Italy] shipment was not factored into our distribution plan for coming weeks."

Yes, hardly a war but it's a good indication of how quickly allies will drop you in it and this isn't even that critical.
I have no idea of the details, this could be completely different to the UK issue.

This is why the plant was not authorised to produce vaccines to be used in the EU.

The University of Oxford, which developed the shot together with AstraZeneca, contracted a plant in the Netherlands owned by company Halix as early as April to produce the drug substance.

This plant was only intended to be used for the U.K. supply chain, the official and a second person with knowledge of the U.K.’s contract with AstraZeneca confirmed.

[Noggin]

Think we are really lucky here. I got a text from my GP and booked an appointment and the centre was 5 mins away. To be fair though I'd have driven 45 mins for it.

TBF, I normally do my shopping down there so it isn't really that far, but sadly the van is currently OOO!! LOL

But if I can get a date, I have a couple of people to ask to drive me down Cake/beer/money will be exchanged! LOL

I was fully expecting the centre to be at over an hour away, so 45mins isn't that bad!

[Noggin]

Well, the online site says that neither Bourg St Maurice or Albertville (hour and twenty mins away) are taking appointments due to high demand!! (and that they are doing Pfiezer )

BUT - I'll get on the phone to the nearer one after lunch as might be more likely to get an appointment by phone!! LOL

[Hoonercat]

This is why the plant was not authorised to produce vaccines to be used in the EU.

The University of Oxford, which developed the shot together with AstraZeneca, contracted a plant in the Netherlands owned by company Halix as early as April to produce the drug substance.

This plant was only intended to be used for the U.K. supply chain, the official and a second person with knowledge of the U.K.’s contract with AstraZeneca confirmed.

So not intended to be used in Australia either then. Come on, let's see you get worked up about that as well

[irie]

Briefly saw this in the FT and thought it was interesting, so ripped it off before the paywall kicked in.
------------
EU turns to US in scramble for Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

Move is part of bloc’s effort to boost faltering immunisation programme AstraZeneca is battling to meet first-quarter EU delivery targets that have already been slashed because of production problems in the bloc.

The EU will urge the US to permit the export of millions of doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine to Europe as Brussels scrambles to bridge supply shortfalls that have hobbled its inoculation drive. The European Commission plans to raise the matter in forthcoming transatlantic discussions aimed at boosting collaboration on the fight against Covid-19, EU officials said. The EU also wants Washington to ensure the free flow of shipments of crucial vaccine ingredients needed in European production, including for groundbreaking mRNA technology vaccines.

The European push to access US production of the AstraZeneca jab — which was made in collaboration with Oxford university — comes as the company battles to meet first-quarter 2021 EU delivery targets already slashed because of production problems in the bloc. AstraZeneca has also said it intends to source half of its planned second-quarter supply to the EU from elsewhere in the world.

The European Commission told the Financial Times: “We trust that we can work together with the US to ensure that vaccines produced or bottled in the US for the fulfilment of vaccine producers’ contractual obligations with the EU will be fully honoured.” The EU move comes after it emerged this week that Italy and the commission had blocked a shipment of AstraZeneca jabs to Australia. That stoked global tensions and fears of vaccine hoarding.

The EU is urgently trying to boost a vaccine rollout that has trailed those in both the US and the UK. AstraZeneca declined to comment on the EU effort to access its US production. Joe Biden, US president, and Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, discussed pandemic co-operation on Friday. The US and EU are both big vaccine producers and have a “strong interest” in working together for the good functioning of world supply chains, the commission said after the call.

Thierry Breton, EU internal market commissioner, has now been tasked to work with Jeffrey Zients, US co-ordinator of the Covid-19 response, on vaccine supply chain matters. EU officials are hopeful that the more co-operative transatlantic relationship seen since Biden took office will help smooth the effort.

AstraZeneca insists that it remains on track to hit its target to deliver 40m doses to the EU by the end of the first quarter — a number revised down from an original plan to ship at least 100m shots by the end of March. The company has also said it will need to source 90m second-quarter EU doses from outside the bloc, but has not stated where these would come from.

The White House has said it intends vaccine doses made in the US to be used to meet domestic demand first, as per an executive order signed by former president Donald Trump in December. While Washington does have an order for 300m doses of the AstraZeneca jab, the situation is complicated because it has not yet been authorised by US regulators.

A White House official said: “The president’s first priority is to make vaccines available for every American. The US and EU have committed to deepening co-operation on pandemic response, including by enhancing public health capabilities and information sharing. We know that in order to beat this pandemic and to turn a corner on economic recovery, we must work with our allies and partners.”

The EU also wants to ensure that US rules do not impede shipments of raw materials needed for vaccine manufacture in Europe. One area of concern is the EU’s dependence on the US for supplies of lipid nanoparticles, which are essential for new mRNA technology vaccines made by companies including BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna. A second White House official said: “The US and EU are reliant on each other for key components in the manufacturing process, and co-operation will remain critical.”
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[weeksy]

I've peaked with it all. I'm not convinced it's even news now. It's just logistics and that's remarkably dull.

[wheelnut]

I've peaked with it all. I'm not convinced it's even news now. It's just logistics and that's remarkably dull.

As it stands, ITUs are still full, we can’t travel anywhere, can’t go on holiday, can’t go out for a meal. I’d say it’s still counts as news.

[weeksy]

I've peaked with it all. I'm not convinced it's even news now. It's just logistics and that's remarkably dull.

As it stands, ITUs are still full, we can’t travel anywhere, can’t go on holiday, can’t go out for a meal. I’d say it’s still counts as news.

I meant specifically the distribution debates, who has what, who doesn't, who will or won't send it somewhere.

I totally get that others may not have peaked with it, but I really have. It just all feels like political wank.

[wheelnut]

I meant specifically the distribution debates, who has what, who doesn't, who will or won't send it somewhere.

I totally get that others may not have peaked with it, but I really have. It just all feels like political wank.

Yeah, that’s true enough. I’m just interested in the timing of lockdown restrictions and the vaccine rollout here.

[irie]

I've peaked with it all. I'm not convinced it's even news now. It's just logistics and that's remarkably dull.

As it stands, ITUs are still full, we can’t travel anywhere, can’t go on holiday, can’t go out for a meal. I’d say it’s still counts as news.

I meant specifically the distribution debates, who has what, who doesn't, who will or won't send it somewhere.

I totally get that others may not have peaked with it, but I really have. It just all feels like political wank.

You're absolutely right, it's degraded into grubby politics. My point exactly.

[Gedge]

I've peaked with it all. I'm not convinced it's even news now. It's just logistics and that's remarkably dull.

As it stands, ITUs are still full, we can’t travel anywhere, can’t go on holiday, can’t go out for a meal. I’d say it’s still counts as news.

Our local ITU has around 1/3 the number of patients it had at Peak.. and numbers go down week on week ..

[wheelnut]

Our local ITU has around 1/3 the number of patients it had at Peak.. and numbers go down week on week ..

Yep, so they’re still full, just not as overloaded as they were at the peak. But numbers are going down.

https://www.nomoresurgeons.com/post/turning-amber

[Gedge]

Our local ITU has around 1/3 the number of patients it had at Peak.. and numbers go down week on week ..

Yep, so they’re still full, just not as overloaded as they were at the peak. But numbers are going down.

https://www.nomoresurgeons.com/post/turning-amber

Below normal levels for this time of year ...

[Mr. Dazzle]

Our local ITU has around 1/3 the number of patients it had at Peak.. and numbers go down week on week ..

Yep, so they’re still full, just not as overloaded as they were at the peak. But numbers are going down.

https://www.nomoresurgeons.com/post/turning-amber

Below normal levels for this time of year ...

I've read in a few places now that 'they' expect March death figures to be below average this year. Mostly cause of the 'collateral damage' inflicted on flu by the lockdown.

Strange times for sure.

[Dodgy69]

56 yo from tomorrow. Getting close.

[Gedge]

56 yo from tomorrow. Getting close.

You can book online now at the NHS app ...

[Horse]

Mostly cause of the 'collateral damage' inflicted on flu by the lockdown.

Every silver lining has a cloud?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56312621

Dr Hopkins told the BBC's The Andrew Marr Show: "I think we have to prepare for a hard winter, not only with coronavirus, but we've had a year of almost no respiratory viruses of any other type. And that means, potentially the population immunity to that is less.

"So we could see surges in flu. We could see surges in other respiratory viruses and other respiratory pathogens."

[wheelnut]

Below normal levels for this time of year ...

I'll tell my wife - she'll be thrilled. She had 2.5 level 3 patients last night. Normally 1 to 1. She'll be relieved it's going to be below normal levels tonight....