BORIS Johnson will give a press conference tonight to sooth the nation’s fears over the AstraZeneca jab amid worries about 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.
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.
