Lockdown in wales will last for three more weeks at least but children could return to schools there after the february half term. Around 300,000 people are expected to leave hong kong for britain using a new visa route which opens on sunday. Investors respond with outrage after Trading Platforms halt the buying of shares in the us games firm gamestop and other companies. It follows days of frenzied trading that led to a massive increase in its value. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. A new Coronavirus Vaccine has been shown to be 89. 3 effective in large scale uk trials. The novavax jab is the first to show it is effective against both the uk and South African Variants of the virus. As you can see from this graph, the uk has secured 60 million doses of the jab, which will be made in stockton on tees. The doses are expected to be delivered in the second half of this year if approved for use by regulator. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency will meet today to decide whether to approve the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine developed for Emergency Use in eu countries. It comes as the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, has demanded astrazeneca fulfils its contract with the eu. A row has broken out in the past few days after the firm said problems with its Production Plant in belgium meant the eu would not be getting all of the vaccines it had paid for. Yesterday, germany recommended that the astrazeneca jab developed by Oxford University should be given only to people under the age of 65, but the uk continues to insist it provides high levels of protection for all adults. With more on all the latest vaccine developments, heres our reporterjohn donison. Another scientific breakthrough in the fight against coronavirus, this time from the us firm novavax. Results of the companys british trial show the first proven efficacy against the new, more contagious uk variant. There were more than 15,000 volunteers on the trail throughout the uk, and over half the cases of covid 19 recorded came from the new variant. It covid19 recorded came from the new variant. , , variant. It is very significant, because we variant. It is very significant, because we were variant. It is very significant, because we were able variant. It is very significant, because we were able to variant. It is very significant, i because we were able to show variant. It is very significant, because we were able to show that the vaccine works well against both the vaccine works well against both the old, the original strain, and the old, the original strain, and the new strain. It had 96 efficacy against the original Covid 19 Strain, yet it also had efficacy against the variant strain. Mew against the variant strain. New trials have against the variant strain. New trials have also against the variant strain. New trials have also shown against the variant strain. New trials have also shown it against the variant strain. New trials have also shown it works against the South African strain. Its a fantastic result, because it shows its a fantastic result, because it shows that its a fantastic result, because it shows that the novavax vaccine is effective shows that the novavax vaccine is effective against both the uk variant effective against both the uk variant as well as the South African Variant, variant as well as the South African Variant, and variant as well as the South African Variant, and has shown phenomenal efficacy. Variant, and has shown phenomenal efficacy, and its made in teesside, not so efficacy, and its made in teesside, not so not efficacy, and its made in teesside, not so not only have we trialled the vaccine not so not only have we trialled the vaccine to not so not only have we trialled the vaccine to make sure it is safe and effective. Vaccine to make sure it is safe and effective, we are making it too, so we will effective, we are making it too, so we will be effective, we are making it too, so we will be able to save lives in the uk. The uv. The vaccine uv. The vaccine minister, uk. The vaccine minister, who took part in the novavax trials himself, said it was great to see such encouraging results, and is now awaiting approvalfrom results, and is now awaiting approval from the regulator. Results, and is now awaiting approvalfrom the regulator. The uk has 60 million doses of the newjab on order. It will be a huge boost to the immunisation drive, which is already seeing almost 7. 5 Million People across the uk receive the first dose of either the pfizer or astrazeneca vaccines. But a row continues with the European Union, which was much slower heir the mark in ordering and approving vixens. The eu now wants access to some of the uks supply of astrazeneca doses because of shortages on the continent. The eu regulator is expected to approve the astrazeneca vaccines today. Meanwhile, in germany, where the Pfizer Vaccine is being used, a National Vaccine committee has said the astrazeneca jab should for now not be given to people aged 65 or above because of insufficient evidence of how effective it is in older people. The government here has firmly rejected that. Government here has firmly reected that. ,. ,. ,. ,. , that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that they that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that they think that. Our own authorities have made it very clear that they think the it very clear that they think the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is very 0xford astrazeneca vaccine is very good and efficacious. They think it is effective across all age groups, and provides a good immune response across all age groups. The evidence of how well the Astrazeneca Vaccine Works in people over 65 is limited, but leading scientists here say they are confident it will give strong protection. Our medical editor fergus walsh has more on the results and what happens next. What really caught my attention was the fact that this vaccine proved nearly 86 effective against the new uk variant. This was a vaccine that was not designed with that in mind, but it shows the cross protection that it gave, so, stunning results, absolutely stunning results. As you say, it will be produced in stockton on tees. We must not get ahead of ourselves. First, novavax must submit its final dossier to the uk regulator, and they told me very late last night this will not happen for a few weeks. They want to get a bit more data in, so it could be several weeks before they do that. The nhra, the regulator, has been doing a rolling review of their data so far, but i think what we need to expect with this vaccine is that its not going to be on stream for a few months yet. In fact, most likely, it will be the vaccine that the younger people get, that will come on stream in a big way, assuming. We should not really assume, that it is approved, probably in the second half of the year. 0ur Europe Correspondent gavin lee has the latest on the vaccine row between the eu and astrazeneca. A few days ago, the boss of astrazeneca did at one interview with the italian newspaper la repubblica, in which he said they have had bad luck, with their facilities in belgium, and also in the netherlands, which he said was for the eu and uk manufacturing sites for the vaccine, which would supply the uk first. He also said it was a contract with a clause that always said, we will deliver based on best efforts. Today, speaking on german radio, Commission PresidentUrsula Von Der Leyen said it is Crystal Clear that thatis leyen said it is Crystal Clear that that is not the case. The clause on best efforts was only ever if you could not produce the vaccine, and clearly, you could, butjust in smaller numbers. The other issue about saying the uk base goes to the uk first, he says it is in the contract that the two uk bases in two eu bases are to supply the eu, so whilst we are not getting the uk involved, she wants the contract published immediately by astrazeneca, today, she says, and that tells you the eu President Commission is getting back involved after a row that has been deeply unpleasant for a week. They say, you must publish this, because ultimately the public will see the transparency of who is right. Peter 0penshaw is professor of Experimental Medicine at Imperial College london hes also a member of nervtag, a group which advises the government on the threat posed by new and emerging respiratory viruses. Thank you very much forjoining us. Good morning. Thank you very much for oining us. Good morningļ¬ thank you very much for oining us. Good morning. How excited should we be about the good morning. How excited should we be about the novavax good morning. How excited should we be about the novavax trials good morning. How excited should we be about the Novavax Trials Which be about the Novavax Trials Which look to be pretty promising . Yes. Be about the Novavax Trials Which look to be pretty promising . Yes, i am really pleased look to be pretty promising . Yes, i am really pleased to look to be pretty promising . Yes, i am really pleased to see look to be pretty promising . Yes, i am really pleased to see yet look to be pretty promising . Yes, i. Am really pleased to see yet another vaccine coming through. So far, we have Emergency Approval for two rna vaccines, the moderna and biontech, which are fairly similar, and then the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine, which is a recombinant vaccine based on the rna vaccine, which is actually more a conventional vaccine, formulated to induce a really good immune response, and im delighted we have a third basic approach to vaccination which seems to give such high protection. This is remarkable, and i think unprecedented that there should be such a rich abundance of approaches, all of which are successful. What all of which are successful. What are the advantages all of which are successful. What are the advantages of all of which are successful. What are the advantages of novavax in terms of the temperature it has to be stored at, who it most will suit . It is a relatively conventional vaccine, it can be stored in the fridge, and the production is by conventional methods of producing the protein and then incorporating it with something called an adjuvant, which makes it a little more powerful. It is actually a Detergent Material you can extract from bach. From bark. So it looks like it would probably be suitable for younger people, but it appears to be effective in these studies regardless of age, so it could have quite wide applicability. I think it goes with the narrative that has been developed at the earliest vaccines, the first one is on the scene, would not necessarily be the ones that would be successful long term. This looks like a very promising vaccine. 0ne term. This looks like a very promising vaccine. One problem may be on the horizon is that the new variants of virus developing around the world, some of them may be resistant to virus based on the original sequence from the wuhan strain, so it may need updating over time, but that is reallyjust a formulation problem. Lets turn our attention to the row over the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine with the eu, but more particularly, the concerns expressed in germany that its not as effective for the over 65s, and yet here in the uk, doctors are adamant it is. Who is right . Doctors are adamant it is. Who is riuht . ~. ,. ,. , right . Well, we have no evidence of its effectiveness right . Well, we have no evidence of its effectiveness from right . Well, we have no evidence of its effectiveness from the right . Well, we have no evidence of its effectiveness from the oxford i its effectiveness from the oxford limb of the study, because originally, the oxford investigators quite rightly decided to vaccinate fit young people and then to move progressively into vaccinating wider groups once it had been shown to be safe, and to induce a good Antibody Response. So only in the later phases during the summer did they move into the elderly, and there were not enough infections. I think they were only two in the elderly participants in the study, one in each group. So that is really not enough to make any sort of guess about its effectiveness, but it was very clear that it was equally immunogenic, by which i mean that the Antibody Responses were just as goodin the Antibody Responses were just as good in the older adults as in the younger ones. So i think we have very good grounds on which to assume that the effectiveness of the vaccine would be equal in older adults. But you can understand that if they required specific data on the effectiveness of the vaccine in older adults, then the study data from oxford didnt show that. There are other ongoing studies which will show how effective the vaccine is in older adults, show how effective the vaccine is in olderadults, but show how effective the vaccine is in older adults, but those havent been reported yet. Briefly, then, if you are over 65 and are offered the astrazeneca gel, what would your message be to people thinking, i dont know if this is worth me having . I thinking, i dont know if this is worth me having . Worth me having . I would be confident worth me having . I would be confident that worth me having . I would be confident that it worth me having . I would be confident that it will worth me having . I would be confident that it will induce l worth me having . I would be confident that it will induce a worth me having . I would be confident that it will induce a good Antibody Response, equally good to the one seen in younger people. Side effects are, if anything, less in older adults, and i would be quite confident this is a good vaccine to have. Anything which has been licensed in the uk has been done with great care and deliberation and these are safe and i am confident that they will be effective as well. There is no data to say they will not be effective. Professor, thank you very much for your time. Professor, thank you very much for our time. , ~ i. Schools in wales could start to re open to all pupils after the february half term if Covid Infection rates continue to fall in the coming weeks. The Welsh Government says it will work with schools on a phased return from the 22nd of february. Wales First Minister this morning gave an idea of which pupils might be the first to return to the classroom. It will be a matter of selecting Priority Groups. There is a strong case for having the very youngest children back in school. They are not able to learn online and remotely, and the risk of them contracting or passing on coronavirus is the least of all. But we do also want to see if it is possible to have young people who are sitting for qualifications, particularly those where there are practical aspects to those examinations, vocational qualifications, in our schools and colleges. We would like to see them backin colleges. We would like to see them back in the classroom in small numbers, may be, not as it would have been before. Tomos morgan is our wales correspndent. He has been following the story. It has been one of the main talking points, really, all year, since the lockdown across the uk was put into effect just before christmas. Now, wales, really, before christmas, had the worst case rates, Transmission Rates of all the uk nations. Since then, since lockdown has been put into effect, now were starting see the positive coming out of that. The Transmission Rates in wales are now going down, the positivity rate, those Testing Positive across wales, is now coming down. So, all of those things together, really, have come together, coupled together, to make way for this decision today by the First Minister and the Welsh Government to allow schools to partially reopen on the 22nd, on a phased return, as you mention, there, will be the youngest going back to school for us, for two reasons, one, Online Learning is so much more difficult for children of younger age, for obvious reasons, and of course, as well, the Transmission Risk for passing on the virus at that age group is so much lower. But it is keen, as well, to try and get some high school but he is keen, as well, to try and get some High School Age children back in. Those who are of exam grades, as well, but he has caveated all of this, saying the only way this is going to go ahead is if all those things we talk about, the Transmission Rates, the hospital rates, the Vaccination Rates, do continue to go in the right direction. 0ur wales correspondent. The headlines on bbc news. A new vaccine produced in the uk has been found to be highly effective against coronavirus including th