UK Transport Secretary says no vaccine supply issues despite other countries' UK entry restrictions

A new variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading in the UK. On the 21st (local time), security personnel were controlling vehicles at the entrance of Dover Port in southern England.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Grant Shapps, UK Secretary of State for Transport, stated on the 21st (local time) that although European countries are locking their doors due to the spread of new coronavirus (COVID-19) variants within the UK, there will be no impact on vaccine imports.

In an interview with Sky News on the same day regarding Europe's travel restrictions to and from the UK due to the COVID-19 variants, Secretary Shapps said, "It will not affect the (UK's) vaccine program."

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided on an emergency lockdown, citing a rapid spread of COVID-19 infections in London and the southeast of England due to the new variants.

In response, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and Bulgaria have planned to restrict or limit entry from the UK.

France, a major trade route between the UK and Europe, completely banned entry from the UK for 48 hours starting at midnight on the same day. Transport operators such as truck drivers are also prohibited from entering, and customs clearance is only allowed for cargo shipped on vessels without crew entry.

Entry from France to the UK remains possible, but transport operators are concerned that returning to France after entering the UK will be prohibited.

Secretary Shapps explained that vaccines, transported in containers from Belgium, can still enter the UK through Dover Port. He also reported that about 500,000 people in the UK have received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Regarding France's measures, Secretary Shapps said he was "slightly surprised" but hopes that such closure measures will not last too long.

He added that discussions with French authorities are ongoing. It is reported that normally about 6,000 freight trucks travel daily between the UK and France by ferry or train.

With Christmas approaching, there are concerns about possible shortages of groceries in the UK. The UK Food and Drink Federation stated that France's measures could cause disruptions in Christmas food supplies and also affect the UK's food and drink exports. However, Secretary Shapps assured that there will be no shortages of groceries or medicines and urged the public not to engage in panic buying.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.