BORIS Johnson will give a press conference tonight to soothe the nation's fears over the AstraZeneca jab amid worries about blood clots and shortages of the vaccine.
The PM will speak to the nation, expected to be at 5pm, today.
This afternoon the European Medicines Agency are expected to green light the jab across Europe, despite several states pausing the rollout over fears it could lead to blood clots.
UK ministers have stressed the jab is safe and there's no extra risk of blood clots as a result. Scientists said there's a higher risk of developing one from catching Covid itself.
It comes after the EU yesterday threatened to seize factories on the continent making the jab and divert them to its own supply.
Just nine per cent of the EU has been jabbed compared to nearly half of Britain's adult population.
It came as:
- Ministers admitted that UK jabs would be delayed, and there would be a renewed push to make sure every over 50 has got it first
- The jab won't be rolled out to the 50s yet over a "lumpy" supply
- Shielding will end on March 31 for nearly four million people
- It was reported that Indian Government may be considering holding some of the jabs back
And ministers last night admitted that the jabs rollout would slow down after this month as a result of supply issues.
It has been suggested that the problems with Britain's vaccine supply is somewhat due to a delay in a shipment from India of five million AstraZeneca jabs.
The delivery of doses has been held up by four weeks, sparking fears it may delay the rollout.
The suppliers, the Serum Institute of India, said countries are keeping a firm grip on their supplies, which restricts vital access to materials needed to produce more.
A spokesperson for the Serum Institute said, "Five million doses had been delivered a few weeks ago to the UK and we will try to supply more later, based on the current situation and the requirement for the government immunisation programme in India," the BBC reports.
It comes as India's Prime Minister issued a stark warning that "we will face trouble" if the surge in coronavirus cases – reaching 11.4 million – is not brought under control.
"If we do not stop the pandemic right now, then there will be a nationwide break. We have to take immediate steps to stop the emerging second peak. Or else we will face trouble," PM Narendra Modi said.
He urged leaders to take quick action, as the country, with a population of over 1.3 billion, has the third highest death toll globally.
It is feared locals have now taken a lax approach to preventive measures, as people stopped wearing masks, some venues reopened and large gatherings recommenced.
"Maharashtra is already facing a second wave. The need of the hour is to ramp up the vaccination drive further," Dr Rommel Tickoo of Max Healthcare told Sky News.
Boris Johnson is due to visit India for an official visit next month.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab hit out yesterday at the EU's comments over blockding vaccine supply over their own shambolic rollout.
Mr Raab said: "Different countries have different approaches but I can tell you crystal clear the UK regulator, the EU regulator, and the WHO all say that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and people should continue to take it.
"It is safe, people should get the vaccine. It has been very clear from the MHRA, the UK regulator, that the risks of taking the vaccine are no more than, in terms of for example blood clots, than the population at large.
"There is no extra risk on the evidence that we've seen, which is why they have authorised the vaccine and haven't taken any further action.
"We respect the process and procedures that some other countries may need to go through but the vaccine is safe and people should certainly continue to take it and to protect themselves and their friends and family."
The MHRA issued a statement last week saying more than 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered across the UK with no issues.
And Mr Hancock wrote in The Sun to reassure Sun readers they had nothing to worry about and there were no additional risks with taking it.
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