clots were reported in a small number of people. hundreds of patients may have had "do not resuscitate" decisions placed on them during the pandemic, without them or their families knowing — the care regulator calls for urgent action. people seeking asylum in the uk could be sent abroad while their cases are being processed, under a plans for a major overhaurl of the immigration system expected to be set out next week. and coming up this hour — keeping beauty—spots beautiful — why landowners want more people to pay attention to to the countryside code. good morning and welcome to bbc news. the government is facing questions over why there's to be a significant reduction in covid vaccine supplies from the end of this month. it is understood a delivery of millions of doses of the oxford—astrazeneca jab, produced by the serum institute of india, has been held up by four weeks. after opening up appointments to all over 50s on wednesday, nhs england says jabs should now not be offered to younger age groups throughout april, meaning healthy people in their 40s will have to wait till may. the health secretary, matt hancock, said there was always going to be ups and downs in availability, but labour has accused him of trying to downplay the issue. at the same time, the european commission president, ursula von der leyen, has threatened to restrict covid vaccine exports to some countries, including the uk, if supplies in the eu don't improve. she said the eu was still waiting for vaccines to be delivered from the uk. also today, the eu's drugs regulator is due to present the findings of its investigation into the safety of the astrazeneca covid vaccine. several countries have temporarily stopped using the jab after blood clots were reported in a small number of inoculated people. and the health secretary has confirmed more than 3.7 million vulnerable people in england will no longer have to shield from the coronavirus from one april — as cases and hospitalisations continue to fall. —— from the 1st of april. more on all these stories to follow — this first report from jim reed. another step closer to normality. afternoon, you all right? at gps like this one in lincolnshire, thousands have been given their vaccines this week. there you go — done. that it? that's it. in total, more than 25 million have now beenjabbed. for the next fortnight, there should be plenty of doses to go round. after that, though, there is more doubt. a letter sent by the nhs to local health services warned of a significant reduction in supply next month, and said no further appointments for first doses should be uploaded to booking systems in april. 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. it's thought the late delivery of batches of the astrazeneca vaccine manufactured at a plant in india are to blame for the shortfall. nobody who has an appointment should lose their slot, but this may delay the roll—out to the next age group down — those in their 40s — by perhaps as much as a month. it comes as the european commission suggested it could block exports of the pfizer vaccine to the uk, unless otherjabs are sent back across the channel in return. meanwhile, 13 eu states have still suspended the use of the astrazeneca shot over concerns about rare blood clots. an investigation into that by the eu medicines agency is due to report back this afternoon. keeping up the pace of vaccine supply is crucial if the government is going to stick to its roadmap out of lockdown. the recent fall in infections means that almost four million vulnerable people in england have now been told they no longer need to shield from next month. the reason we've done that is because the rates of community infection have now dropped a long way and they've been sustained. and we recognise that actually advising people to shield for more than about 12 weeks can be really quite damaging for their mental health. so i think good news for all of them. as for the vaccine programme, the government said supply of the jabs will vary over time, but it remains on track to offer a first dose to all over—50s in england by mid—april, and all adults by the end ofjuly. jim reed, bbc news. speaking a little earlier the housing secretary robertjenrick says plans to offer a first dose to all adults by the end ofjuly are still on track despite the issue. we are experiencing some supply issues, so it does mean that the vaccine roll—out will be slightly slower than we might have hoped, but not slower than the target that we have set ourselves, which is, as i say, to get those groups one to nine by the middle of april. and if you have appointments, they will still be honoured. so we are going to move forward as quickly as we possibly can, but it won't be as fast as we might have hoped for a few weeks. but then, we have every reason to believe that supply will increase in the months of may, june and july. let's speak to our medical editor fergus walsh. good morning to you. let's begin with this issue. the latest issue of the delay of the soul apply —— of the delay of the soul apply —— of the supply in india. what detail do you have on why that is the case? my you have on why that is the case? m understanding you have on why that is the case? m: understanding is you have on why that is the case? m; understanding is that there was a deal to supplied 10 million doses and that was announced the 3rd of march. but only 5 million of those are on their way. they are supposed to be delivered this month. the exact reason for that is unclear. i suspect and many will suspect, that it may be a domestic political issue in india about exporting doses, given that by volume it is the worlds biggest vaccine producer. there may have been some eyebrows raised about why are we sending doses to the uk. i am told that those doses will get here. that is partly an explanation for why there is this lump in supply next month. the other thing is, the vaccine roll—out has been going amazingly well in the uk and so many people have now had their first dose, 25 million. i guess at some point, there had to be a time where the nhs caught up in terms of doing all the second doses because once the 12 week period have come up, you have to have your second dose. so all these people will need their second shot. i5 these people will need their second shot. , i, , i these people will need their second shot. i, shot. is the domestic supply, production — shot. is the domestic supply, production of _ shot. is the domestic supply, production of the _ shot. is the domestic supply, production of the astra - shot. is the domestic supply, l production of the astra seneca shot. is the domestic supply, - production of the astra seneca at full capacity or can it be ramped up? full capacity or can it be ramped u . ? i, , i, , up? that is going extremely well i am told. i have _ up? that is going extremely well i am told. i have watched _ up? that is going extremely well i am told. i have watched the - am told. i have watched the production line of the astrazeneca vaccine, it is not a simple process of producing widgets. it is a very complex biological process. each batch, you get a different yield. then it has to go through safety checks, quality control checks. there is never a guarantee that you are going to get ex amount of doses from each batch, but it is going very well. as is the pfizer production of doses, their plant in belgium. although they of course could be subject to some export controls if the eu press that particular nuclear button. qm. controls if the eu press that particular nuclear button. 0k, thank ou ve particular nuclear button. 0k, thank you very much _ particular nuclear button. 0k, thank you very much for — particular nuclear button. 0k, thank you very much for that _ particular nuclear button. 0k, thank you very much for that i _ particular nuclear button. 0k, thank you very much for that i worked - you very much for that i worked medical editor. there's going to be a report released on the astrazeneca vaccine after a number of people have been vaccinated reported blood clots. we are going to talk to our european corresponded. tell us a bit more about the scope of the investigations. i? about the scope of the investigations. about the scope of the investiuations. ' i, , i, , investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu _ investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu and _ investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu and the _ investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu and the uk _ investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu and the uk have - investigations. 17 million people so far in the eu and the uk have had i far in the eu and the uk have had the astrazeneca vaccine. and there have been fewer than a0 cases reported of blood clots. what the european drugs regulator has been doing is looking at each of those reported cases very carefully to see if it cannot establish any link between the vaccine and the blood clotting because at the moment there is not any evidence to suggest that they are linked. it gave out an initial assessment on tuesday when it said that so far there was no indication that the vaccine was causing the clotting. but we will find out later today whether it has found anything. the indication at the moment is that it has not. it has urged countries along with the who to carry on using the vaccine, saying that at the moment the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. for the countries where there has been a pause in the astrazeneca jab, if the ema later on says that there is no issue here, do you expect those countries to quickly start using it again?— using it again? certainly so. a number of _ using it again? certainly so. a number of countries - using it again? certainly so. a number of countries have - using it again? certainly so. a . number of countries have already come out and said that if it gets the all clear here today, they will immediately start using it again. for some of these countries this is about trust. they know that trust is an issue here and you're. they wanted to make absolutely sure that this was a cautionary measure so they could say to people this vaccine is safe and once they get the all clear, if they get it, they will carry on using it. there have been some who have a question whether they should have breast pause before having the evidence given that we know every day this vaccine is saving many lives. qm. vaccine is saving many lives. 0k, thank you — vaccine is saving many lives. 0k, thank you very — vaccine is saving many lives. 0k, thank you very much _ vaccine is saving many lives. 0k, thank you very much for that. we will bring you the announcement from the ema later on today. have people here seen any... joining me now to discuss this is gp and tv personality dr zoe williams. what have you seen by way of people's attitudes toward the astrazeneca vaccine? have you seen any noticeable difference because some countries had decided to pause using it? some countries had decided to pause usin: it? , i, , , some countries had decided to pause usin. it? , , , using it? yes, absolutely, people have been _ using it? yes, absolutely, people have been asking _ using it? yes, absolutely, people have been asking questions - using it? yes, absolutely, people have been asking questions and l using it? yes, absolutely, people i have been asking questions and that is understandable because people are coming from a place where there is already vaccine hesitancy. most people we have seen come forward and take the vaccine once it is available. particular people from certain ethnic groups there is hesitancy. this is adding more fuel to the fire. as a gp it is myjob to answer those questions. the conversations i've been having is around explaining what is the background. we know that about one in 1000 people each year will sadly get a blood clot anyway so what they are looking into in europe is these people who have suffered a blood clot sadly, would they have suffered one anyway had they not had the vaccine? and all of these organisations are giving the indication that they expect the answer to be yes. and that there will not be any direct link between the vaccine and the blood clots. 0nce the vaccine and the blood clots. once we have that report this afternoon we can fully reassure people to get on doing what we do best which is vaccinating people and protecting them. that best which is vaccinating people and protecting them-— protecting them. that is a reassurance, _ protecting them. that is a reassurance, the - protecting them. that is a i reassurance, the explanation protecting them. that is a - reassurance, the explanation that you are offering. in the meantime, have you seen some patients actually cancelling their vaccine appointments? 0r after conversations are most people happy to go ahead? most people in my experience are happy to go ahead after an explanation with someone that they trust. of course not everybody has been calling up to have that conversation. we have some people cancelling their appointments. i remain positive and hopeful that once this issue is dealt with, we can draw a line under it this afternoon and we can get on with the delivery of this crucially important vaccination programme that is going to get our lives back to normal. it bears repetition i think, the message we have been hearing from doctors and scientists is that if people take up their offer of a vaccine, it reduces the opportunity for this virus to grow, but also very importantly for variants of the virus to emerge.— virus to emerge. exactly. the best wa we virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can — virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can beat — virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can beat this _ virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can beat this virus - virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can beat this virus if - virus to emerge. exactly. the best way we can beat this virus if we i way we can beat this virus if we think about it as us in a battle with the virus is this vaccination programme. the longer the viruses out circulating the opportunity it has to make small changes and we get these variations. the quicker we can vaccinate everybody or as close to everybody as possible, the better. the last time we are giving the virus to make those changes. the side effects _ virus to make those changes. the side effects which many people are not having, are very mild. what kinds of things can people expect if they were to have a side effect? the common side _ they were to have a side effect? tue: common side effects is they were to have a side effect? t't2 common side effects is soreness they were to have a side effect? ti2 common side effects is soreness to the arm where they have had the injection for two or three days, and for 2a hours some people get a mild flu—like symptom. it tends to be a fever, feeling a little bit sore, feeling tired. we have not had any other side effects and people in our clinic. it other side effects and people in our clinic. , i, i, i, i, ii clinic. if you have a flu vaccine ou can clinic. if you have a flu vaccine you can have _ clinic. if you have a flu vaccine you can have that _ clinic. if you have a flu vaccine you can have that same - clinic. if you have a flu vaccine you can have that same sort i clinic. if you have a flu vaccine| you can have that same sort of reaction. , , i, i i, reaction. yes you can. the flu vaccine changes _ reaction. yes you can. the flu vaccine changes every - reaction. yes you can. the flu vaccine changes every year, l reaction. yes you can. the flu l vaccine changes every year, we adapted to whatever strains are prevalent. this covid vaccine has been delivered to more people globally than any flu vaccine has. the safety data for the these vaccines is bigger, we have more data to look at for safety than we have ever had before. it is a shame, i think that the particular european countries jumped the i think that the particular european countriesjumped the gun i think that the particular european countries jumped the gun and took this precaution a little bit too early. that is going to create some fear and concern when actually we know that this vaccination is the safest vaccination arguably we have ever had because of the huge of millions of people who have had it and been fine. th millions of people who have had it and been fine. in a millions of people who have had it and been fine.— and been fine. in a word if anyone has an appointment _ and been fine. in a word if anyone has an appointment or— and been fine. in a word if anyone has an appointment or question, | has an appointment or question, don'tjust cancel, call your gp and check it out?— don'tjust cancel, call your gp and check it out? yes. or alternatively no alon: check it out? yes. or alternatively go along to _ check it out? yes. or alternatively go along to the — check it out? yes. or alternatively go along to the appointment - check it out? yes. or alternatively go along to the appointment and i check it out? yes. or alternatively - go along to the appointment and have a conversation with the people giving the vaccination. there are people they are trained to do that. if you realise you don't want to have your vaccine on that day after the conversation that is ok.- the conversation that is ok. thank ou so the conversation that is ok. thank you so much _ the conversation that is ok. thank you so much for— the conversation that is ok. thank you so much for that. _ the conversation that is ok. thank you so much for that. we - the conversation that is ok. thank you so much for that. we were - the conversation that is ok. thank| you so much for that. we were just talking about the astrazeneca vaccine. naomi yeoman says she is 32, she has been invited to have a vaccine on saturday as she is in the at risk category. should i can so she says? i hope you heard doctors so we william saying no, go along, have a conversation if you need one. do not cancel your appointment. if you have any questions about the vaccine or vaccine supplies, we will be talking to a supply expert in the next hour, do get them to me on twitter. 0r to a supply expert in the next hour, do get them to me on twitter. or use the hashtag. the time is 9:17am. here are the headlines on bbc news this morning... most people in their a0s will have to wait until may to get a a covid vaccine, after a significant drop in supplies —— a delay in deliveries from india is partly to blame. the eu's drugs regulator will give itsjudgement on the safety of the astrazeneca jab today — several countries have paused the rollout after blood clots were reported in a small number of people. hundreds of patients may have had "do not resuscitate" decisions placed on them during the pandemic, without them or their families knowing — the care regulator calls for urgent action. we are going to pick we are up up what that story now. the care regulator for england has said hundreds of people may have been subject to "do not resuscitate" decisions during the early part of the pandemic — without them or their families knowing. a report by the care quality commission found evidence that the dnr decisions — which restrict potentially life—saving treatment — were applied across particular groups, including people with learning difficulties. 0ur social affairs correspondent michael buchanan reports. sonia had an absolute zest for life, loved being with herfamily, you know — always smiling, always laughing. son has got the moves. sonia deleon suffered from schizophrenia and had learning disabilities. but it was only after she died in hospital from a heart attack last april that her family say they