Boris Johnson warns vaccine trade dispute with EU could cause long-term damage

A vial of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at Copes Pharmacy and Travel Clinic in Streatham, south London (Yui Mok/PA)

Boris Johnson warned that a vaccine trade war would result in “considerable” and “long-term” damage as the European Union set out a tougher regime to stem supplies of jabs to nations faring better in the pandemic.

Admitting it is a Covid-19 “hotspot”, the European Commission said on Wednesday it may not approve exports to nations with more advanced vaccine rollouts or where there is a better “epidemiological situation”.