CRACKS IN VAX ROLLOUT »

» NHS braces for ‘significant reduction’ in supply for April All over-50s eligible as PM, 56, ‘pleased’ to be getting Oxford jab

THE NHS was last night warned to expect a “significant reduction” in vaccinations next month due to a lack of supplies.

Jabs will surge this month but the UK Vaccine Taskforce yesterday wrote to the NHS warning that available doses will fall during April. Covid-19 jabs were opened up to all over-50s in Northern Ireland on Monday and in England yesterday who no longer need to wait to be contacted by the NHS and can book via its website.

The 32 million people in the top nine priority bands, including age groups down to the over-50s, were supposed to be reached by April 15. They represent 99% of preventable deaths from coronavirus.

The fast rollout had sparked speculation that the under-50s could start getting vaccinated before mid-april but hopes of that were dashed yesterday. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press conference he is confident of meeting a target to vaccinate the top priority groups by mid-april.

In response to a question, he replied: “Vaccine supply is always lumpy and we regularly send out technical letters to the NHS to explain the ups and downs of the supply over the future weeks, and what you’re referring to is a standard one of those letters.”

The UK yesterday passed the 25 million mark for those who have had first doses and daily jabs will ramp up from this week.

Latest daily figures showed a further 433,000 people received a first dose on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he would be having the Astrazeneca-made jab after the European Medicines Agency urged EU countries who have paused its rollout to restart.

Mr Johnson, 56, told MPS: “I think perhaps the best thing I can say about the Oxford/astrazeneca vaccine programme is that I finally got news that I’m going to have my own jab very shortly.”

He added he was “pleased” to learn

“it will certainly be Oxford/astrazeneca that I will be having”. The EMA’S investigation has so far found no evidence of a link between clots despite suspensions in countries including France and Germany. It is

due to give its latest recommendation today, while the World Health Organisation yesterday said: “WHO considers that the benefits of the Astrazeneca vaccine outweigh its risks and recommends that vaccinations continue.” There are fears European countries’ moves to suspend the Oxford jab could harm take-up, particularly among under-50s. Prof Ivo Vlaev, of the NHS Covid Behaviour Change Group, said: “The currently unspecified nature of the vaccine’s side effects prompts people to imagine the worst case scenario. This is a powerful emotional response.”

The NHS sent out two million more text messages yesterday with a link allowing over-50s to pick their slot. Text alerts will be followed with 2.4 million letters being sent out this week.

The leaked letter informing of the upcoming vaccine slowdown was sent to health bodies from NHS England. It said:

“The Government’s Vaccine Taskforce have notified there will be a significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning in the week commencing 29 March, meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained.

“They now currently predict this will continue for a four-week period.”

The NHS Confederation, the independent membership body for the NHS, said it is concerned over delaying first jabs for those outside priority groups. However, the reason for the shortages alert to the health bodies remains unclear as Astrazeneca last night confirmed: “Our UK domestic supply chain is not experiencing any disruption and there is no impact on our delivery schedule.”

And Pfizer said deliveries “remain on track” for the first quarter of its 40 million dose agreement with the UK.