are now being invited to book their appointment for a covid vaccine. a digital travel certificate — the eu suggests a way for holidaymakers to prove they've had a covid vaccination. good afternoon, welcome to bbc news. and to viewers on bbc one where we await a news conference with the health secretary matt hancock in the next half an hour. the row over covid vaccine supply between the eu and uk has been reignited, as the head of the european commission threatened to restrict coronavirus vaccine exports outside of the bloc, in order to prioritise jabs for its citizens. ursula von der leyen said this could apply to countries with higher vaccination rates than those in the eu — such as the uk. ms von der leyen said countries must deliver vaccine exports in a "reciprocal and proportionate" way, and warned all options were on the table as the bloc faces what she called "the crisis of the century". foreign secretary dominic raab has called on the commission president to explain her comments, adding he expects contracts to be honoured. the dispute comes as the department of health said 25 million people in the uk have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. and people over the age of 50 in england are now being invited to book theirjabs. prime minister borisjohnson told mps at prime minister's questions he will be having his jab soon — and that it will be the oxford/astrazeneca vaccine. today, european commission chief von der leyen renewed her criticism of astrazeneca, saying the company had "underproduced and underdelivered" on its contracts with the eu. and she said speeding up vaccination was essential as the bloc faced increasing virus cases and variants. if we have a look at the epidemiological situation, it is getting worse. it is worse where we see the variants, mainly b117. we see the crest of a third wave forming in member states. and we know that we need to accelerate the vaccination rates. europe is trying to make international cooperation work. whether we do it through the funding of covax, we are the largest funder in covax, or through exports to other countries. but open roads run in both directions. and this is why we need to ensure that there is reciprocity and proportionality. and i want to be clear on reciprocity. if the situation does not change, we will have to reflect on how to make exports to vaccine producing countries dependent on their level of openness. all options are on the table. we are in the crisis of the century. and i'm not ruling out anything for now because we have to make sure that europeans are vaccinated as soon as possible. human lives, civil liberties, and also the prosperity of our economy are dependent on that, the speed of vaccination, on moving forward. so, vaccine production and vaccine deliveries in the european union have a priority. our political correspondent jonathan blake is at westminster. at the moment, it is threats and reaction but this potentially is serious implications. it reaction but this potentially is serious implications.- reaction but this potentially is serious implications. it does and that is why _ serious implications. it does and that is why we — serious implications. it does and that is why we are _ serious implications. it does and that is why we are seeing - serious implications. it does and that is why we are seeing tense l that is why we are seeing tense exchanges between the eu and uk on this issue because there is so much at stake. the supply chain of vaccines is of course crucial in the uk and every other country's fight against coronavirus and, so, anything that puts that at risk has the potential to escalate quickly. and it is clear that ursula von der leyen�*s comments are being interpreted as a threat in the uk to potentially restrict exports of the vaccine from the eu to this country and we have seen downing street respond, fairly robustly, saying this lunchtime it expects the eu to stand by its commitment not to restrict exports to the uk. the foreign secretary dominic raab has said ursula von der leyen needs to explain her comments suggesting they cut across previous assurances given by the eu. he said, we expect those to be met and legal contracted supplier to be respected. frankly, he said, i am surprised we are having this conversation. and having this conversation. and earlier today, _ having this conversation. and earlier today, we _ having this conversation. and earlier today, we heard the prime minister's former chief aide dominic cummings talking about the government's initial response to the pandemic. what did he say? this was a fascinating — pandemic. what did he say? this was a fascinating session _ pandemic. what did he say? this was a fascinating session of _ pandemic. what did he say? this was a fascinating session of evidence - a fascinating session of evidence given by dominic cummings. the prime minister's former senior aide in downing street before he left the government towards the end of last year. he was giving evidence to the commons science and technology committee, covering a range of topics, talked about the terms which he agreed to coming into government to do work for borisjohnson which included the premise to giving his assurance he was serious about delivering brexit and also doubling funding into science and technology, and he also offered a pretty withering assessment of the machinery of government, and the institution of whitehall, which he criticised as deeply inefficient, in particular when it came to procuring vaccines. it is not coincidental that the vaccine — it is not coincidental that the vaccine programme worked the way it did. vaccine programme worked the way it did~ to— vaccine programme worked the way it did~ to do— vaccine programme worked the way it did. to do that, we had to take it out of— did. to do that, we had to take it out of the — did. to do that, we had to take it out of the department of health. we had to— out of the department of health. we had to have it authorised very directiv— had to have it authorised very directly by the prime minister, and says strip — directly by the prime minister, and says strip away all the normal nonsense _ says strip away all the normal nonsense that we can see is holding back funding... nonsense that we can see is holding back funding. . ._ nonsense that we can see is holding back funding. .. when you say we took it out of the — back funding. .. when you say we took it out of the department _ back funding. .. when you say we took it out of the department of _ back funding. .. when you say we took it out of the department of health, i it out of the department of health, who is— it out of the department of health, who is weak? — it out of the department of health, who is weak?— it out of the department of health, who is weak? number 10 took it out ofthe who is weak? number 10 took it out of the department _ who is weak? number 10 took it out of the department of _ who is weak? number 10 took it out of the department of health. - who is weak? number 10 took it out of the department of health. in - of the department of health. in spring _ of the department of health. in spring 2020, the department of health _ spring 2020, the department of health was a smoking ruin in terms of procurement and ppe, and all of that _ of procurement and ppe, and all of that you _ of procurement and ppe, and all of that. you had serious problems with the funding — that. you had serious problems with the funding bureaucracy for therapeutics for covid, which was therapeutics for covid, which was the context of it. patrick vallance then came — the context of it. patrick vallance then came into number 10 and said this should — then came into number 10 and said this should not be run out of the department of health, we should create _ department of health, we should create a — department of health, we should create a separate task.— create a separate task. downing street has _ create a separate task. downing street has responded _ create a separate task. downing street has responded to - create a separate task. downing street has responded to the - create a separate task. downing - street has responded to the comment saying covid challenged health systems around the world. the department of health and the nhs was central, it said, to the roll—out of the vaccination programme but mr cummings, who has long had a reputation for not being afraid to speak his mind and voice controversial opinions, even when he was in government, certainly held up to that today, and he said some things that we haven't heard from him before. he said and was heard from very little in public when he was in post. but he came out with some eyebrow raising sound bites today and it will be interesting to see how those are met by the health secretary, matt hancock, who is due to give the briefing from downing street in the next half an hour. indeed, and we will carry that live. we will talk to you very shortly but for the time being, thank you. our health correspondent katharine da costa is here. all sorts of things going on today, as we know there have been 25 million people who have received their first dose of the vaccine here in the uk and come yet, the picture in the uk and come yet, the picture in europe is really very different, talk us through where we are. today marks 100 days _ talk us through where we are. today marks 100 days since _ talk us through where we are. today marks 100 days since the _ talk us through where we are. today marks 100 days since the first - marks 100 days since the first person, you remember those pictures of margaret keenan on 8th of december, the first person in the world to get an authorised vaccine. fast forward to today, more than 25 million have been vaccinated. the government has said by the end of the week that'll be half the adult population. so, a big milestone. of that, 95% of those over 65s, 90% of those clinically extremely vulnerable. the health secretary has said it is a huge achievement. one of the biggest logistical challenges since the war. now we know the 50s and 55s are invited to get it, 2 million text messages being sent out in england and other nations have made a start in those age groups. it means the top nine priority groups will have been vaccinated by the end of this month. that is a couple of weeks ahead of the target of mid april. and they represent 99% of those most at risk dying from covid. so, you know, while the uk is making great strides at rolling out its vaccine programme, we have seen a sluggish roll—out across parts of europe, hampered by things like delays, both from astrazeneca and from pfizer having to extend its factory and ramp up production, and now we are seeing, you know, 13 european countries pausing the roll—out of the astrazeneca vaccine over a very small number of blood clots. lots of things going on there slowing things down, the european agency is due to report its findings tomorrow but the world health organization, the uk regulator, the ema, they've all said the vaccine is safe, the vaccine roll—out should continue. astrazeneca has said, you know, the number of cases that have been reported, it is less than a0 out of 17 million people that have had a first dose in europe and in the uk, they say that is lower than what you'd expect in the general population. so, actually, the world health organization issued a statement today reiterating that the benefits far outweigh any side effects. it is also investigating the vaccine but has said immunisation should continue. 50. immunisation should continue. so, the regulators are all very confident about this vaccine. is there any sign of any vaccine hesitancy creeping in here or are things still just hesitancy creeping in here or are things stilljust going full steam ahead and people are turning up for their vaccination? ahead and people are turning up for theirvaccination? in ahead and people are turning up for their vaccination?— ahead and people are turning up for their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from — their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from gps _ their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from gps that _ their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from gps that said _ their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from gps that said they - their vaccination? in the uk we have heard from gps that said they have l heard from gps that said they have heard from gps that said they have heard some calls from patients asking questions. understandable people might have questions about it. but what they have reinforced is there is no evidence of a link with blood clots. and, as you said, these agencies have said it is safe, it should continue to be rolled out. we have seen this cautionary approach from europe. when the vaccine was licensed back injanuary, some countries, like germany, france, they said they didn't want to give it to the over 65s because there wasn't the evidence. that decision wasn't the evidence. that decision was found to be untrue and it was reversed and real—world data has shown that it is very effective at protecting older age groups. and, so... we have seen the cautionary approach which has baffled experts because they said during a pandemic it might harm vaccine confidence and it might harm vaccine confidence and it could cost lives because we have seen a third wave in some european countries at a time when they have caused a vaccine so people are being unprotected and we know that if you catch covid there is actually an increased risk of getting blood clots. ., �* ., ., increased risk of getting blood clots. ., ., ., clots. 0k, don't go far away, we have the downing _ clots. 0k, don't go far away, we have the downing street - clots. 0k, don't go far away, we have the downing street press l have the downing street press briefing coming up. for the time being, thank you very much. for the time being, thank you very much. professor linda bauld is a public health expert at the university of edinburgh and joins me now. that afternoon. i'd like to pick up on the issue we were just discussing about vaccine hesitancy and whether you feel the public here in the uk is picking up at all on those fears in europe or whether, in fact, people are turning up confidently for their vaccines. the people are turning up confidently for their vaccines.— for their vaccines. the uptake so far has exceeded _ for their vaccines. the uptake so far has exceeded far _ for their vaccines. the uptake so far has exceeded far what - for their vaccines. the uptake so far has exceeded far what any i for their vaccines. the uptake so far has exceeded far what any ofj for their vaccines. the uptake so i far has exceeded far what any of us could have expected. here in scotland we've had almost all people over the age of 65 who have taken up the vaccine when offered so it has been phenomenal. i have heard, not just from gp colleagues but also if you have a look on social media, telephone phone ins, people are beginning to ask questions about what is happening in europe and the last thing any country needs is to encourage vaccine hesitancy. i would say these embolism is that have been thrown up in norway and elsewhere, it is a positive sign that the alert system is working. in the uk we have the mhra with a yellow card system. other countries have equivalent systems that is fair enough. but i hope that we will hear very clearly from the european medicines agency tomorrow that these cases are not directly linked to the vaccine programme and that more europeans can receive this vaccine that, for all we know is do you have any understanding as to why the european medicines agency is taking its time over its final verdict? because we know from their previousjudgment verdict? because we know from their previous judgment that they are confident that it is safe. i previous judgment that they are confident that it is safe.- previous judgment that they are confident that it is safe. i think a cou - le confident that it is safe. i think a coule of confident that it is safe. i think a couple of things _ confident that it is safe. i think a couple of things will _ confident that it is safe. i think a couple of things will be - confident that it is safe. i think a couple of things will be affecting | couple of things will be affecting that. the first one as we have had more country saying they are going to pause the use of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine over the last few days, and also more country submitting their data, and they will want to look at each of these cases very carefully and just to be assured that there is no cause for concern. there are 17 million people in europe that have received this vaccine, and my understanding is there are about 37 cases of these thromboembolisms, so it is a matter of days, but every day that passes, in the eu catherine was just giving some of the figures there, but i was looking at the date of this afternoon, almost four in ten adults have received their first dose in the uk. the european union average is about 8.5%, so it is really important that more vaccines are available and rolled out across europe. available and rolled out across euro e. �* available and rolled out across euroe. �* available and rolled out across euroe. . ., , europe. and looking at the figures more generally. — europe. and looking at the figures more generally, linda, _ europe. and looking at the figures more generally, linda, would - europe. and looking at the figures more generally, linda, would you| europe. and looking at the figures i more generally, linda, would you say things are going in the right direction in the uk? in things are going in the right direction in the uk?- things are going in the right direction in the uk? in the uk, in terms of the _ direction in the uk? in the uk, in terms of the reductions - direction in the uk? in the uk, in terms of the reductions we - direction in the uk? in the uk, in terms of the reductions we have | terms of the reductions we have seen, the daily figures, reeta, just announced over the last hour, cases down by 1.2% on the seven day average, but you can see big reductions in the number of people in hospital, and also mortality from this disease. like israel, we are really seeing the impact on the key indicators of people in hospital, icu and deaths, and that is notjust a result of vaccines, it is also restrictions, but the vaccines are doing the heavy lifting at the moment. so fingers crossed this definitely continues.— moment. so fingers crossed this definitely continues. because the [on . er it definitely continues. because the longer it takes _ definitely continues. because the longer it takes to _ definitely continues. because the longer it takes to get _ definitely continues. because the longer it takes to get people - longer it takes to get people vaccinated, the longer it will take to open up. vaccinated, the longer it will take to open urn-— vaccinated, the longer it will take to open pp— to open up. that is true, each of the uk nations _ to open up. that is true, each of the uk nations has _ to open up. that is true, each of the uk nations has a _ to open up. that is true, each of the uk nations has a different i the uk nations has a different approach, there are dates as well as data talked about, it is going to be a gradual easing everywhere, but i think as the weeks progress, if we can see really small numbers of people in hospital, while the risk is definitely still there to those not vaccinated, it does mean that through a combination of testing vaccines and gradual easing, hopefully we'll get through the next few months successfully and then we can worry about what happens later in the year be prepared for that. 0k, in the year be prepared for that. ok, thank you very much indeed. i just want to go back to our political c