The most significant aspect of the AstraZeneca announcement last Friday was what was not said. News reports rightly concentrated on the company’s intention to “transition to modest profitability” from its current at-cost Covid vaccine policy, together with buoyant third-quarter results that nevertheless fell short of analysts’ expectations.
Yet underlying the immediate 6.8 per cent fall in the share price may have been a more serious concern. The financial undershoot and the vaccine pricing are of a piece with the less than adroit handling of the vaccine rollout last year, including poor messaging surrounding its efficacy.
Not for nothing is it among the least favoured jabs for those who have a choice. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has said that people should
