BORIS Johnson has reassured Brits that the AstraZeneca jab is safe and effective – as he calmed nerves about the country’s vaccine rollout.
The PM spoke out to reassure worried Brits that they had nothing to fear by taking the jab, which he revealed he will get himself tomorrow.
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And he promised that despite some issues with supply, the NHS was still on track to deliver a dose to every adult by the end of July as planned.
All second doses would be given, and there would be more doses available than in February, he claimed.
He also stressed that there was “no change to the next steps of the roadmap” and Britain would continue to unlock.
The PM added: “Our progress along the road to freedom continues, unchecked.
“We remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms, our sports facilities and of course, our shops.”
This afternoon the European Medicines Agency gave the green light to the jabs continuing – despite several states pausing the rollout over fears it could lead to blood clots.
EU regulators said again today that it is safe and there was no need to stop jabbing.
The PM said tonight: “They’ve confirmed that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing covid far outweigh any risks.
“The Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, the thing that isn’t safe is catching covid.
“I’m getting mine tomorrow.
“Get that jab when your turn comes. Let’s get the jab done.”
It came as:
- UK Covid deaths HALVE in a week with 95 fatalities and 6,303 cases recorded in last 24 hours
- 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 under 50s yet over a “lumpy” supply
- Shielding will end on March 31 for nearly four million people
- EU leaders threatened to seize factories and block exports to divert supply to the bloc
- It was reported that Indian Government may be considering holding some of the jabs back
- Boris Johnson said he would be getting the AstraZeneca jab “shortly”
Emer Cooke, the EMA’s executive director, said she would take the Covid vaccine “tomorrow” if offered – after revealing the group’s “clear scientific conclusion” that it should continue being used.
She said the jab is recommended for use – but a link between a small number of “blood clotting disorders” and the vaccine can’t be entirely ruled out, so the EMA has instructed it be added to the warning label.
Ministers last night admitted that the jabs rollout would slow down after this month as a result of supply issues.
Matt Hancock confirmed earlier that 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.
Boris said that the UK had “no bans on exporting stuff” and vowed to continue to work together with the EU despite threats from the continent. to disrupt our supply.
It comes after the EU yesterday threatened to seize factories on the continent making the jab and divert them to its own supply.
Their shambolic rollout has seen them lag far behind Britain in getting jabs in arms.
Just nine per cent of the EU has been jabbed compared to nearly half of Britain’s adult population.
EU WHAT?
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 Trending In The News to reassure readers they had nothing to worry about and there were no additional risks with taking it.
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https://trendinginthenews.com/uk-politics/labours-hartlepool-byelection-candidate-apologises-for-slur-about-cabinet-minister
