A University of Oxford scientist has blamed “bad behaviour” from politicians and figures in science for damaging the reputation of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, causing a lack of confidence he says “probably killed hundreds of thousands of people”.
Prof Sir John Bell, who helped drive the vaccine’s development, said the effect of such behaviour was far-reaching and affected the worldwide battle against the coronavirus.
"They have damaged the reputation of the vaccine in a way that echoes around the rest of the world,” he told the BBC.
“I think bad behaviour from scientists and from politicians has probably killed hundreds of thousands of people – and that they cannot be proud of.”
The Oxford-made shot has suffered several blows to its reputation since being approved for use in the UK in December 2020.
British advisers recommended that people under 40 should be offered alternatives to the dose due to a link to rare blood clots, while fears over possible side effects prompted several European countries to suspend use of the vaccine.
Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Bulgaria and Iceland paused the use of the AstraZeneca shot.
Ian Jones, a professor of virology at Britain’s Reading University, said the blood clot issue had “been picked up by politicians who don’t know one side of a virus from another”.
“It’s like falling dominoes. You just need one or two [countries] to state there’s a problem and suspend use, and then a whole lot of others will fall in place. I don’t think there have been any independent decisions,” he said.
The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine was initially billed as a UK success story and called “Britain’s gift to the world”.
Scientists designed the shot to be cheap, easy to transport and be stored at fridge temperature.
Prof Bell said politicians’ promotion of the vaccine as a product of Britain added to the souring of relations with the EU.
“I don’t think it made with relations with Europe any easier that it was promoted as the British vaccine,” he said.
He was speaking to the BBC for its documentary, AstraZeneca: A Vaccine for the World, to be broadcast on the network on Tuesday at 9pm.
French President Emmanuel Macron was among the continent's most high-profile critics of the shot.
“We have to be realistic: the real problem with the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it doesn’t work in the way we expected,” he said. “We have very little information … but all the indications today are that it is quasi-ineffective for those over 65 years old.”
Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts accused AstraZeneca of being dishonest and arrogant about the effectiveness of its coronavirus vaccine and said the company had “over-promised and under-delivered”.
Last April the European Medicines Agency concluded that unusual blood clots with low blood platelets should be listed as "very rare side effects" of the shot.
The latest government data from December 2021 showed the UK had ordered 189 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, nearly double the 100 million AstraZeneca doses ordered.
As of January 26 this year, an estimated 25.6 million first doses of the Pfizer shot and 24.9 million first doses of the AstraZeneca drug had been administered. For second doses the figure for Pfizer was 22.5 million and 24.2 million for AstraZeneca.
However, amid scepticism abroad, the AstraZeneca vaccine has not played a major role in the UK’s booster campaign. The National Health Service website states that Pfizer and Moderna jabs will be offered as boosters.
"Some people may be offered a booster dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine," it says.
The shot accounts for only 48,000 of the more than 37 million booster doses given in the UK.
Despite the easing of coronavirus restrictions, Covid-19 cases continue to rise is some areas.
Around three in 10 areas in Britain recorded a week-on-week rise in infection rates on Friday.
The five UK areas with the biggest week-on-week rises were Exeter, Hart, Forest of Dean, Guildford and North Devon.
Scotland recorded two more coronavirus deaths and another 5,593 positive cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, while the number hospital admissions fell.
There were 958 people in hospital on Saturday with Covid-19, down from 990 on Friday and from 1,291 on the same day last week.
The UK recorded 54,095 new infections and 75 deaths on Sunday.
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
