‘Delivery delays’ behind jabs blip
A DELAY in deliveries from India and the need to retest a batch of 1.7 million doses is behind an expected shortfall in coronavirus vaccine supply in April, Matt Hancock has said.
England’s Health Secretary told MPS that a partnership with the Serum Institute of India is one the UK “can be proud of”, despite a delay in deliveries of the Astrazeneca vaccine from its plant.
NHS England told health leaders on Wednesday to expect a significant shortfall in vaccine doses from March 29 for about four weeks. It said people under 50 should not be booked in for first appointments unless they fell into a higher priority group, such as being clinically vulnerable.
The move means the under-50s could now have to wait until May to get a vaccine, despite doctors having planned to start on that group in April, Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPS has said.
Mr Hancock told MPS: “We have a delay in the scheduled arrival from the Serum Institute of India.”
Downing Street did not deny, however, a suggestion from the head of the Serum Institute of India that the Indian government
was temporarily blocking exports of the Astrazeneca vaccine.
Its chief executive Adar Poonawalla told The Telegraph: “It is solely dependent on India and it has nothing to do with the SII (Serum Institute of India). It is to do with the Indian government allowing more doses to the UK.”
In the Commons, Mr Hancock said that a batch of 1.7 million doses of vaccine had been delayed due to the need to retest its stability. “Events like this are to be expected in a manufacturing endeavour of this complexity and this shows the rigour of our safety checks,” he said.
Mr Hancock said second doses would be prioritised in April, and there would also be some first doses, but did not make clear for which groups. “There will be no weeks in April with no first doses,” he said. “There will be no cancelled appointments as a result of supply issues – second doses will go ahead as planned.”
It comes as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland would have 500,000 fewer coronavirus vaccine doses over the next month than anticipated.
The Government has stated that the UK is still on track to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July.
However, Northern Ireland has suggested it may still be able to start vaccinating people in their 40s from mid-april.
Meanwhile, the Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine is “safe and effective” – and its benefits outweigh any risks, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded.
However, the European regulator said it “cannot rule out definitively” a link between “a small number of cases of rare and unusual blood clotting disorders” and the vaccine. The EMA has concluded there is no overall increase in the risk of blood clots with the vaccine, and in fact it is likely to reduce the overall risk of clots.
A FILM and food festival is coming to Swansea this summer and people will be able to enjoy themselves at a distance, with friends and family.
The UK’S biggest touring outdoor cinema company, Adventure Cinema, is hosting the event, which will be at Singleton Park in Swansea from July 8 to 11, Welsh Government regulations permitting.
As well as showing classics like Grease and The Goonies, there’ll be newer films like
Joker, Jojo Rabbit and The Invisible Man screened while the opening nights will be dedicated to independent filmmakers.
Different in each region, the showcase will highlight the work of local creatives, giving their films a major platform, and giving audiences an exclusive chance to see some fantastic new cinema. A total of £2 from every ticket sold for the short film nights will also be used to support local film organisations within each city.
While Saturday and Sunday afternoons will be reserved for family films, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings will feature live comedy from UK comedians, followed by blockbuster movies.
There will also be street food from local traders.
The festival will be 100 percent compliant with government safety guidelines.
For more information, visit filmandfoodfest.com.