A PROFESSOR with the Oxford University vaccine team, accused French president Emmanuel Macron of trying to reduce demand for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to deal with supply shortfalls in the EU by questioning its effectiveness for older individuals.
Sir John Bell, a professor who was part of the Oxford University team that developed the coronavirus jab, disputed Mr Macron’s claims the AstraZeneca vaccine is “quasi-ineffective” for the over-65s.
The president backed the European Union’s widely criticised move to control the export of vaccines produced within the bloc as it faces supply shortages and is embroiled in a contract row with the pharmaceuticals giant.
Contrary to analysis from UK authorities, developers and suppliers, Mr Macron raised doubts over the AstraZeneca jab, which was fully approved by the EU on Friday.
“We have to be realistic: the real problem with the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it doesn’t work in the way we expected,” Mr Macron told journalists from organisations including the Guardian.
“We have very little information… but all the indications today are that it is quasi-ineffective for those over 65 years old.”
But Sir John said: “I’m not sure where he got that from”, as he rejected Mr Macron’s claims by saying “there’s really persuasive evidence that this is a protective vaccine in those populations”.
The professor acknowledged the original study contained low numbers of older participants because they were shielding, but he said other studies proved “elderly people responded just as well in other age groups”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir John added: “I suspect this is a bit of demand management from Mr Macron.”
Prof Sir John Bell
Pressed if he thinks Mr Macron is trying to reduce demand, Sir John said: “Well, if he didn’t have any vaccine the best thing you could do is reduce demand.”
Former UK ambassador to France Lord Ricketts said Mr Macron was “badly out of order” with his remarks on the vaccine.
“I’m very surprised and I imagine there will be quite a lot of criticism in the French press because there’s already vaccine scepticism in France and to stoke it doesn’t seem to me to help anybody,” the peer told Times Radio.
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The president also backed Brussels’ controversial move to impose export controls in an escalation of its row over supply with AstraZeneca.
“It should be controlled because there is questionable behaviour and we will be receiving fewer deliveries that do not honour the contractual engagements agreed,” he said in the interview.
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