There was a double dose of good news yesterday as two new vaccines were shown to be effective.
If granted approval, the Janssen and Novavax vaccines could soon be rolled out alongside the AstraZeneca and Pfizer drugs.
This would enable more to get the jab, offering hope life could start to return to normal.
The development of these vaccines is a tribute to the brilliance of the scientific community and the way it has collaborated internationally for the common good.
That spirit of cooperation is unfortunately lacking when it comes to distribution.
The EU should not be threatening to blockade supplies of drugs purchased by other countries in good faith. Our Government’s advance order of the AstraZeneca vaccine was one of the few decisions it has got right.
We should not be punished because Brussels did not show the same foresight.
Instead of waging an unseemly vaccine war the EU should seek to resolve its dispute with AstraZeneca as quickly as possible.
And we should remember the losers in the current race are the poorest nations who are struggling to get any vaccines at all.
Old need voice
WHO in Government speaks up for older people? The answer is no one.
Despite 12 million over-65s there is no dedicated minister for the elderly. The Scottish Government has a Minister for Older People and Equalities, while the Welsh administration has an Older People’s commissioner.
They ensure their voice is heard when
decisions on issues such as pensions, health and social care deeply affect their lives.
It is our growing elderly population which is not represented at the heart of power. It is time they had their own champion.
80 years of love
Mirror readers Ron and Beryl Golightly have celebrated their 80th wedding
anniversary.
Their love for each other lifts all our hearts.
