The earlier SARS and MERS outbreaks were stopped w/o a global pandemic. The scientists who researched those corona virussen did not find interest by BIG Pharma nor state investment funds to develop vaccines. Science was very much aware it was a matter of time a global outbreak would come to pass.

What is leadership and how wise was it not to go ahead and develop the coronavirus vaccines? How gigantic is the human suffering and the scale in numbers of economic damage? The German scientists of BioNTech and Oxford were first to develop tests and were quick on results for a vaccine. Both had direct experience in the earlier research. Trump and Warp Speed money were focused as scavengers to buy brains and patented science in foreign countries. The Dutch government has invested in Jansen in Leiden and production facilities. The commercial partner is J&J. The German pharmaceutical industry also was funded by the government. See also CureVac Trump was willing to pay a high price for exclusive distribution rights.

BioNTech worked together with Pfizer for commercial dealings and use of vast vaccine manufacturing sites.

The biggest problem is wealth and logistic know-how to bring the vaccines on the market. Key word WHO warning: hoarding as it brings unbakance and inequality.

Until the G7 meeting where partners vowed  $7.5bn to GIVA COVAX, there was barely $2bn donated, more than half from a single donor ... of course the EU-27.  Bolsonaro, Trump and Johnson were to busy burying their dead to worry about lives lost beyond their borders. A complete failure in leadership!! 😡

The world could breath a sign of relief with the defeat of Idiot Trump. The Republicans still have not learned their lesson of four years of drama and division under Trump.

From revelation in Italy of UK contract with AstraZeneca, quite likely PM Boris Johnson was given exclusive rights for early delivery of vaccines.

Health was not a topic for Brussels, this has changed now from hard lessons learned.