Vaccine Nationalism or ‘Brexit Dividend’? Strategies of Legitimation in the EU-UK Post-Brexit Debate on COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns

The initial stage of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been slow-moving and marred by supply disruptions in EU. These problems have triggered severe criticism toward institutions highlighted a stark contrast compared to Britain’s vaccination campaign, which, at beginning 2021, was one fastest continent. In ensuing debate between EU UK on their uneven rates, Brexit argument repeatedly invoked: Some political commentators argued that reason why campaign could run so smoothly Britain is country not held back EU’s slow approval process. This paper observes way which emphasized its blistering pace deflect against Brexit. From discursive perspective, success used vindicate project, providing new favour indispensable timely nature. At other end binary rhetoric, officials attempted shatter confidence ‘British vaccine’, while also depositing blame factors triggering delay, such as shortage pharmaceutical supplies. analytical part this foregrounds strategies legitimation observe how, what extent, being reshaped media looking corpus tweets. rhetorical adopted leaders (de)legitimise national supranational choices with reference are observed through lens Critical Discourse Analysis it embraces idea acts dialectical relation social institutional structures they framed.