EU threat will not impact Covid vaccine deliveries to UK, says minister
January 26, 2021, 12:10 pm

EU threat will not impact Covid vaccine deliveries to UK, says minister

The UK’s vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, says: ‘Pfizer has made sure that they have always delivered for us, they will continue to do so.

Nadhim Zahawi says he is confident of Pfizer jab supply after threat to block exports

The UK’s vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, has said he is confident that Pfizer will deliver the number of coronavirus injections needed in the UK.

It follows concerns over vaccine supply in the EU, prompting the bloc to tell pharmaceutical companies they can only export to Britain with its explicit permission.

Asked whether the EU could prevent Pfizer vials from leaving its borders, Zahawi told Sky News: “No, I’m confident that the Pfizer vaccine will be delivered.”

The EU issued an angry warning to AstraZeneca on Monday over its unexpected delay in delivering millions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc.

Last Friday, the pharma multinational said it would not meet its contractual delivery commitments to the EU because of unexplained “reduced yields” in its European supply chain.

The EU has currently authorised two vaccines for distribution, manufactured by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna.

Zahawi said: “Pfizer has made sure that they have always delivered for us, they will continue to do so.

“They have made a very important announcement on the equitable supply of the whole world, including the European Union, and I’m sure they will deliver for the European Union, the United Kingdom and for the rest of the world.

“We have got 367m vaccines that we have ordered from seven different suppliers, so I’m confident we will meet our target and continue to vaccinate the whole of the adult population by the autumn.”

He added: “The EU has to make decisions as it does. We will always support them and it is unwise for me to engage in their negotiations or deliberations on vaccine programs … No one is safe until the whole world is safe, which is why we need to work together.”

On Sky News, he also said that “it is far too early for us to speculate about the summer” and booking holidays later in the year.

He added that an announcement about quarantine hotels would be made later on Tuesday. Boris Johnson is expected to make a decision about a requirement to isolate in a hotel for 10 days after discussing the proposals with senior ministers later.

The measures are likely to apply to UK citizens and those with permanent residency arriving from high-risk countries such as South Africa. Most foreign nationals from high-risk countries already face UK travel bans.

Concernshave been raised about the impact of this on the travel industry and Zahawi said that they will be “engaged with heavily to explain the decision-making” at a health and business level.

When pressed on whether people could book holidays for the summer, the minister said it was still “far too early to speculate about this” as 37,000 people were in hospitals with Covid-19.

The vaccine minister was also asked about schools, saying he could not give a definite date on when they were likely to reopen. “Once we see infection rates drop to levels that are safe and acceptable we will as much to teachers and schools,” he said.

source: Sarah Marsh

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.