The number of people getting the first dose of their Covid-19 jab will be “constrained” as a result of a reduction in the supply available, health officials have said.
NHS leaders said there will be a “significant reduction” in the weekly vaccine supply available from the week beginning March 29.
A letter to regional NHS bosses says that the reduction will continue for a “four-week period”.
Local health leaders have been told to focus efforts on the top priority groups in the letter, signed by Dr Nikita Kanani, medical director for primary care for the NHS in England, and Emily Lawson, chief commercial officer.
The number of people getting the first dose of their Covid-19 jab will be “constrained” as a result of a “significant” reduction in the vaccine supply available, health officials have said.
NHS leaders said there will be a “significant reduction” in the vaccine supply from the week beginning March 29.
A letter to regional NHS bosses says that the reduction will continue for a “four-week period”.
As a result, health leaders have said that people under the age of 50 should only get the jab if they are in a priority group for the vaccine.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press conference that the nation was “on course” to meet the target of offering a first dose to all over-50s by April 15.
| UPDATED: 17:38, Thu, Mar 18, 2021
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Coronavirus vaccinations have been rolled out across the UK, with 27,032,671 jabs given so far. Vaccinations are key to releasing the UK from lockdown, with the Prime Minister’s lockdown roadmap hinging on data to enable businesses to reopen, holidays within the UK to take place and family and friends to see each other again.
| UPDATED: 17:11, Thu, Mar 18, 2021
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Jonathan Van-Tam joined Health Secretary Matt Hancock at a No10 presser and was visibly frustrated over Europe s pausing of the AstraZeneca vaccine over fears it causes fatal blood clots and other harmful side effects. Professor Van-Tam bluntly explained that all drugs have side effects and that the coronavirus vaccine s blood clot risk is not anomalous and is entirely expected. To prove his point, the government advisor brought out a datasheet for paracetamol and listed off side effects like difficulty breathing to illustrate tha
| UPDATED: 16:10, Thu, Mar 18, 2021
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Britain says it is on track to have given a first COVID-19 shot to half of all adults in the next few days and it said earlier on Wednesday that more than 25 million people had now received a first vaccination. But the letter to the NHS said for the four-week period it would focus on making sure all those in the most vulnerable categories received their first shot, while those who have received their first vaccine receive their second on time. Ms Kuenssberg questioned Health Secretary Matt Hancock why it was not mentioned during the