That's the second reference to the fact that the UK has had to indemnify the vaccine manufacturers against claims arising from its use (and implicitly that the EU has escaped the latter).
I read a recent article (in the Guardian as it happens, but written by a French journalist) which claimed that the UK was paying a significant premium per dose, and had had to indemnify the manufacturers, as a result of being quick out of the traps in comparison with the EU.
Clearly in the case of the AstraZeneca contract (which had been published before either of these reports), the EU has comprehensively indemnified AZ for just about anything you could think of (and I expect the UK has as well). I doubt arrangements with other suppliers are much different for either party.
As far as price is concerned, AIUI AZ have offered the vaccine universally on a "not-for-profit" basis, and the EU contract seems to reflect this (and apply elements of "open-book" accounting to ensure it). My suspicion would be that the UK contract has similar provisions (and if it really is on a "not-for-profit" basis, it wouldn't be easy to hide differential pricing).
Whatever, at a rumoured cost per dose of around £2, even a 50% premium for the UK would represent a drop in the ocean alongside other Covid costs, and might well be offset by savings made by a faster/earlier roll-out anyway.
|
