Thread by @DaveKeating

MEP Peter Liese, health lead for EU's largest political party EPP, had some interesting remarks today about the latest vaccine developments.

He says the main message from yesterday's #AstraZeneca blood clot news should be this: "It's possible to treat, we have a cure" (🧵1/14 )

Now that they've been identified, the blood clot deaths can be prevented.

It's an immune reaction that can be treated with antibodies, he says. That's why patients need to be informed of symptoms.

"What we're talking about is a serious side effect but it’s very rare." (2/14)

"I personally know a patient [who got the blood clots] who came to hospital last week, and she’s about to leave the hospital tomorrow.

"It’s a really serious issue, it’s life-threatening, but when you have the right treatment you can look at it." (3/14)

The reason to restrict the #AstraZeneca vaccine for younger people is "the risk-benefit ratio is better and better the older people are. If you’re 75 it’s extraordinarily good. With young people it’s a bit different." (4/14)

"We have to distinguish this from the initial discussion of whether we had enough data to show this is effective for the elderly," Liese says.

"When you look superficially some people might say oh there’s all these problems why should I take it? But these are 2 different things"

"The initial decisions to only give AstraZeneca to younger people had nothing to do with side effects, it was [unclarity] whether older people are protected."

"Now we have lots of data from Scotland and England showing older people are protected." (6/14)

"There's some evidence [blood clots] linked to a previous infection, you're more likely to get side effects because it has to due with a very strong immune response" says Liese.

"If that’s true it’s important not to vaccinate people, esp with AZ, who have already had Covid."

"But it’s possible that you had the disease and don’t know it. So I think it’s important to offer, whenever possible, antibody tests before vaccinations," says Liese.

"For 6 months [after having Covid] you’re protected in a similar way to if you had been vaccinated." (8/14)

🇬🇧Liese says he's changed his opinion on UK's delayed 2nd dose strategy. "We see the data from UK, and it’s obviously the case that there’s a lot of protection after 1st dose."

"So to extend time between 1st & 2nd dose is a good thing because it will protect more people faster"

🇷🇺On the Russian #SputnikV vaccine, Liese says he thinks @EMA_News will approve it.

"I was sceptical some weeks ago, but now I would say that it is quite possible that EMA approves Sputnik, and it may even be likely before 1 July. Maybe even May or June." (10/14)

If EMA approves Sputnik and says it's safe "how can we then say we won’t use it for political reasons?" Liese asks.

"It’s true the Russians messed this up, they shouldn't have given approval in August after testing only 100 ppl," he concedes. But EMA approval would be thorough.

🇺🇸 On EU export ban: "Export restrictions really need to be implemented. It's still a huge problem that EU is a major vaccine producer that exports but doesn’t import"

"We should challenge Joe Biden. Why do we have to supply Mexico & Canada and we don’t get anything from US?"

🛂On #VaccinePassports, Liese says MEPs will vote end April. There is "broad consensus but we need to discuss details"

He wants to add antibody tests as a way to prove you had Covid on certificate, because many people have had Covid but never got a positive antigen test. (13/14)

💉 Finally, on idea to open vaccine patents, Liese backs pharma execs who say it's complicated.

"We can’t just lift patents, it's more sophisticated especially for MRNA vaccines, you need comprehensive tech transfer" He's pushing for EU tech transfer deal with US & India (14/14)