Greed, capitalism and the vaccine ; or, another misconception of Alexander de Pfeffel

It has been reported that Alexander, in a speech to the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, has claimed that greed and capitalism are responsible for the production of vaccines. It was subsequently claimed that he 'mis-spoke' and his comments were withdrawn. However, Alexander did say them, and one can assume that they are his true opinions, and those of his cabinet.

The truth (about which he may not care) is more complicated. Astra Zeneca has invested for the long term in scientific research, and has deliberately decided not to make a profit from the Covid vaccine. Moreover, it is distributed by the NHS (a nationalised industry), with the assistance of vaccinators, many of them volunteers. Greed ? Where ? Rather, a partnership between public and private sectors , and a company whose business model contradicts simplistic assumptions about the operations of capitalism, and of the businesses which comprise it.