Boris Johnson Lies Again This Time About Covid Vaccine

First this:

2025: Boris Johnson repeats the lie that Brexit allowed us to get the covid vaccine faster

2020: Dr Raine, CEO of MHRA, says our vaccine roll out was done while the UK was under EU rules pic.twitter.com/Ssqf6gY118

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) February 14, 2025

Then the facts:

In the aftermath of the UK’s rapid Covid-19 vaccine rollout, many Brexit supporters claimed that leaving the European Union had enabled Britain to act faster than its European counterparts. This argument was used as evidence that Brexit had delivered tangible benefits. However, a closer look at the facts reveals that the UK’s vaccine success was not a result of Brexit but rather of existing regulations that still applied at the time.

The UK Was Still Operating Under EU Rules

At the time the UK approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December 2020, it was still in the transition period following its formal departure from the EU. This meant that the UK was still subject to EU regulations and the oversight of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) was able to approve the vaccine under a provision of EU law that allows national regulators to grant temporary emergency authorisations.

This mechanism was available to all EU member states, meaning that Brexit was not a prerequisite for swift approval. The UK simply chose to act more decisively within the framework that was still in place, rather than being held back by any EU-imposed restrictions.

The Real Reasons for the UK’s Rapid Vaccine Rollout

Rather than Brexit, the UK’s early vaccine success can be attributed to a number of other factors:

1. Early Procurement and Investment – The UK government took a proactive approach, securing contracts for vaccines ahead of many other countries. The Vaccine Taskforce, led by Kate Bingham, moved quickly to invest in a range of vaccine candidates.
2. Regulatory Flexibility Within EU Rules – As noted, the MHRA made use of an existing EU provision to approve the vaccine quickly, rather than needing Brexit to enable such a decision.
3. Efficient NHS Rollout – The UK’s well-established NHS infrastructure, combined with a coordinated national strategy, enabled a rapid and widespread vaccine distribution.
4. Public Willingness and Logistics – The government and NHS successfully mobilised mass vaccination centres, volunteers, and healthcare workers to administer doses quickly.

How Did EU Countries Compare?

While it is true that many EU countries took longer to begin their rollouts, this was not because they lacked the legal ability to approve vaccines quickly. Instead, the European Commission opted for a collective procurement strategy, ensuring equitable distribution across all member states. This approach prioritised cautious, collective decision-making over speed, which in some cases resulted in slower vaccine rollouts.

A Brexit Myth

In summary, the claim that Brexit enabled the UK’s swift vaccine approval and rollout is misleading. The UK was still operating under EU regulations at the time, and its early vaccine success was due to strategic decision-making, investment, and infrastructure rather than newfound freedoms from Brexit. While the UK’s approach contrasted with that of the EU, it was a choice made within the same regulatory framework available to all member states.

Understanding the real reasons behind the UK’s vaccine success is crucial in avoiding the spread of misinformation. The speed of the rollout was a testament to preparation, efficiency, and decisive action, not to Brexit.

Please remember what Boris Johnson stands for:

Just 10 of the many, many times Johnson has lied/misinformed:

Early Career & Journalism

1. Fabricating a Quote (1988) – Johnson was sacked from The Times for making up a quote from his own godfather, historian Colin Lucas, in an article about Edward II.
2. EU Regulations Myths – As Brussels correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, Johnson wrote exaggerated or false stories about the EU, such as claiming the EU wanted to standardise condom sizes or ban prawn cocktail crisps.

Political Career

3. Lying to Michael Howard (2004) – Johnson was sacked from the Conservative frontbench for lying about an extramarital affair when he told party leader Michael Howard that claims of his relationship with journalist Petronella Wyatt were “an inverted pyramid of piffle.”
4. £350 Million for the NHS (2016) – During the Brexit referendum, Johnson promoted the false claim that the UK sent £350 million per week to the EU and that this money could be redirected to the NHS. This was widely debunked but remained central to the Leave campaign.
5. Turkey Joining the EU (2016) – Johnson and the Leave campaign falsely claimed that Turkey was on the verge of joining the EU, and that this would lead to mass migration to the UK.
6. Prorogation of Parliament (2019) – As Prime Minister, Johnson advised the Queen to prorogue (suspend) Parliament for five weeks, claiming it was to prepare for a new legislative agenda. The Supreme Court ruled that this was unlawful and that the real purpose was to stifle parliamentary debate on Brexit.
7. Northern Ireland Protocol & Brexit Deal (2019) – Johnson repeatedly claimed that his Brexit deal would not create a customs border in the Irish Sea, contradicting what the agreement actually stipulated.
8. Covid-19 Handling – Johnson made multiple misleading statements regarding the UK’s response to Covid-19, including:
   • Claiming the government had followed scientific advice at all times.
   • Stating there would be a “world-beating” test and trace system.
   • Saying that care homes had been protected, when they were in fact badly affected.
9. Downing Street Parties (“Partygate”) (2020-2021) – Johnson initially claimed that no Covid rules had been broken in Downing Street gatherings. However, it later emerged that multiple events had taken place, leading to fines being issued—including one to Johnson himself.
10. Chris Pincher Scandal (2022) – Johnson claimed he had no prior knowledge of specific allegations against MP Chris Pincher when appointing him as Deputy Chief Whip. It was later revealed that he had been personally briefed about Pincher’s past misconduct.