AIRPLANE WITH 17,500 MORE VACCINES HAS ARRIVED IN MADEIRA

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

The plane carrying 17,500 more vaccines has already landed at Madeira Airport.

It is recalled that the first batch of 9,750 vaccines arrived in the Region at the end of last year, on 29 December.

For the beginning of March, another tranche of 17,500 vaccine units is also due to arrive.

From Jornal Madeira

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Tobi Hughes

17 Responses

  1. Fantastic but I still think the Madeira Government needs to buy the vaccine independently on top of what the Portugal Government is allocating it. The UK has 360 million orders for vaccines from various sources (they only need 120 million) please stop waiting for the EU and mainland Portugal to sort it out, get on the phones to these suppliers NOW.

    1. I agree – have been a resident of Madeira for many years now. I am over 70 and would like to receive the vaccination as soon as possible.

    2. Trouble is that individual nations in the EU are not allowed to access sources of the vaccines directly. It is being (mis)managed centrally.

      Now, I can see the aim of this I.e. to make sure richer states Germany, France, Sweden etc do not grab all the stocks to the detriment of the poorer states e.g. Malta, Bulgaria, Greece. The aim to be a fair distribution. Problem is the total cock-up at the top that has led to the problem plus the production problems at the plants in Belgium and the Netherlands. The stocks being delivered to Madeira(and the Azores) are controlled by Lisbon.

      I am sure the UK would help by sharing out some of its stock but, if we gave to Madeira there would be hell to pay. A case is being put forward for the UK to share domestic with the Republic of Ireland in a few months time. That may be allowed because of the 1923 agreement.

      1. I don’t know where I read it but hasn’t Hungary had enough and ordered their own vaccines ? Correct me if I am wrong .

  2. Madeira will wait for Portugal to send vaccines no other option as it would leave madeira out of pocket.

  3. Sky News is reporting that the situation in mainland Portugal is dire . The German military are taking Covid patients to Austria.

  4. And be put on hold while they deal with the 150 countries also on the phone. Let’s stop this jingoism and UK versus EU puffing of chests.

  5. I think the vaccine suppliers are producing currently whatever they can. All they can produce this year is obviously already sold. So just call and order some more will not result in more, at least not this year. But of course this is not forbidden. 27.000 vaccines received, 44.500 till begin of March seems to be a fair share for population of about 250.000 people in Madeira. UK is about 4 weeks ahead of this schedule because they started with an emergency approval, while EU started with a normal approval.

  6. Hungary ordered 2 Mio. jabs “Sputnik V” from Russia. They are without European approval.

  7. According to the online newspaper Portugalresident they are considering widening the time gap between first and second jabs. Not as far as the UK’s 10 to 12 weeks but a 6 week gap seems likely. This would enable more people to receive the first jab. If this happens I would expect Madeira and the Azores to follow suit.

  8. “None of us is safe until all of us are safe”. Not my quote but I think it was someone from UN or WHO. Agree with the comments here, dealing with a global pandemic is about sharing and cooperation. It is the only way we will get through this as a world… What an opportunity in our history to do something positive and decent, protect the vulnerable and save people’s lives – regardless of where those people are from…

    1. Thanks Erin you are very kind. I understand people’s excitement at getting the vaccine – I am delighted and relieved that my elderly and vulnerable family in the UK got it last week. However, I am not sure that everyone appreciates that it takes at least 2 weeks for any immunity to develop and will require a second dose of the vaccine (preferably within the manufacturer’s recommended 3-4 weeks timeframe!) for full immunity. More importantly, current evidence shows that people can still pass on the virus after vaccination. So the basics of hygiene, mask wearing and physical distance will be very important for a long time… If you add on the strong anti-vaxx movement who are refusing the vaccine it may take a long time for enough people to be fully vaccinated.
      We are not out of the woods yet – so important to cooperate to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible. Keep safe.

        1. Yes Maurice, that’s great. The evidence is growing that the AZ vaccine, unlike some other vaccines, is likely to stop or reduce spread of virus. Important for all countries to get as many vaccinated as possible.
          “None of us is safe until all of us are safe”

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