welcome to this bbc news coronavirus special programme. ministers have sought to reassure people about the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine amid a reduction in supply which means most people in their 40s will now have to wait till may for a jab. the government insists it will still offer all adults their first dose by the end ofjuly, but in the commons earlier today the health secretary confirmed supplies would become tighter in the weeks ahead. the bbc understands a delay in the delivery of 5 million doses of the oxford—astrazeneca jab from in india is one factor. but matt hancock said no vaccine appointments booked would be cancelled and people would still get their second dose as planned. katharine da costa reports. this vaccination centre in south—west london is one of hundreds around the country that so far help to give a dose to around half of all adults in england. having opened up appointments for the over 50s, the nhs in england is now being told not to offer vaccines to younger age groups throughout april because of significant supply issues. but the health secretary has insisted the roll—out will continue as planned. there will be no weeks in april with no first doses. there will be no cancelled appointments as a result of supply issues, second doses will go ahead as planned. most importantly, the vaccine data published yesterday showed the life—saving impact of this vaccine. it's not just that the vaccines are safe, it's that they make you safe. the uk had been expecting 10 million doses of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine from india this month, but only half has arrived. the serum institute has spoken of the pressure it's under. to provide both international and domestic supplies. we are hoping very much that all other vaccine producers scale up because right now the pressure on serum institute is unprecedented. we're being tugged at by different governments in the world. we need to support astrazeneca. for the countries they need to supply vaccines to. and we are being literally forced to supply as much product to the indian government as well. astrazeneca said its uk supply has not been affected. pfizer, which produces its vaccine in belgium, said deliveries to the nhs are also on track. and supplies of moderna are expected some time in the spring. but experts say the manufacture and supply of vaccines is a delicate process. of course, we're dealing with unprecedented demand. we are trying to get the same products to the whole world all at the same time, and these supply chains have high quality characteristics so we do want these to be the highest quality out there. there is very strict testing and authorisations from the different health authorities. the government's warned uk supplies could be lumpy. you can see the supply of doses can fluctuate from week to week. some of those advising the government on the roll—out are concerned delays could impact efforts to tackle the virus. phase two is really important, actually, and if we can't do that as spring progresses, we will be left in a position where we are continuing to have to have lockdowns and so on to control the spread of the virus. despite the setback, the government is still confident it can meet its target for offering all adults a jab by the end ofjuly. it says the road map for easing restrictions is still on track but it will no doubt come as a blow for the over 40s who will have to wait for their invite a little while longer. katharine da costa, bbc news. our correspondent rajini vaidyanathan is in northern india. pa rt part of the issue with the supply problem of vaccines in the uk is as a result of manufacturing where you are. explain exactly what is may be happening. 50. are. explain exactly what is may be ha henin, .,, are. explain exactly what is may be hamenin, . happening. so, as we saw in that re ort, happening. so, as we saw in that report. the _ happening. so, as we saw in that report. the uk — happening. so, as we saw in that report, the uk government - happening. so, as we saw in that - report, the uk government announced at the start of march that it was ordering 10 million doses of the oxford astrazeneca jab from the serum institute, which is the world's largest vaccine supplier. what we have now been told, and i have spoken to somebody from the serum institute this evening, and he said 5 million of the doses have been sent, but there will be a delay on the other 5 million. what the spokesperson said it is, we will try to supply more later based on the current situation and the requirements for india's immunisation programme. clearly there is a lot of pressure to supply there is a lot of pressure to supply the domestic market here in india. but india's foreign minister in parliament yesterday told parliament that 72 countries have been supplied with indian made covid vaccinations. india prides itself on being able to send its indian made vaccines around the world, but the foreign minister said availability will always depend on demand at home. as covid cases are now rising in india for the first time in months at a level we have not seen since december, domestic demand is clearly a big issue here. domestic demand is clearly a big issue here-— domestic demand is clearly a big issue here. , ., , , ., issue here. does that suggest that de endin: issue here. does that suggest that depending on _ issue here. does that suggest that depending on domestic _ issue here. does that suggest that depending on domestic demand i depending on domestic demand supplies around the world, including to the uk, can always fluctuate potentially? i to the uk, can always fluctuate potentially?— to the uk, can always fluctuate otentiall ? ~ . , ., potentially? i think that my dear. 72 countries. _ potentially? i think that my dear. 72 countries, a _ potentially? i think that my dear. 72 countries, a huge _ potentially? i think that my dear. 72 countries, a huge number, - potentially? i think that my dear. | 72 countries, a huge number, and some of those are donations made by the indian government to some of its neighbours, for example bangladesh and sri lanka. we have also been hearing that some of the supplies to nepal are potentially being delayed. it is notjust the uk. the ceo of the serum institute, who you saw in the serum institute, who you saw in the report, also said recently at a world bank event that some of the delays could also be more generally put down to the fact that the us now has an export ban on certain raw materials that their company uses to make vaccines. i thought it was quite interesting. the administration has brought these export bans in, but they are impacting companies like the serum institute of india. that could impact global vaccine delivery as well. 50 impact global vaccine delivery as well. impact global vaccine delivery as well, ., impact global vaccine delivery as well. . , , well. so there are problems with the su -l well. so there are problems with the supply chain — well. so there are problems with the supply chain further _ well. so there are problems with the supply chain further down _ well. so there are problems with the supply chain further down the - well. so there are problems with the supply chain further down the line, l supply chain further down the line, so the viles, the stoppers for the vials, the plastic lining for the drums the vaccine is made and, though supply problems are having an effect on india's ability to produce the number of vaccines everyone hoped? the number of vaccines everyone ho ed? ., , the number of vaccines everyone hoed? . ,. ., , ., hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at _ hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at a _ hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at a few _ hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at a few weeks - hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at a few weeks ago. - hoped? that is certainly what the ceo said at a few weeks ago. he | ceo said at a few weeks ago. he raised concerns about this export ban that has been brought in by the us administration. another factor as well is there was a fire at the serum institute and insiders say this is also set back production. there are lots of factors, but the overriding political issue as well as making sure that domestic supplies are available. as i said, covid cases have been low in recent months but they are spiking in certain parts of india and the indian government has expanded its immunisation programme recently, but there are also reports that as early as next week it could open eligibility to an even wider age group, maybe the over 50s are the over a0 fives. anyone over the age of 60 could get the vaccine and a5—year—olds with pre—existing conditions. there is huge demand here. the immunisation programme is the largest vaccination programme in the largest vaccination programme in the world and it will always come down to as well as supply chain issues and everything else, making sure that indian domestic demand is met and that is a challenge everywhere in the world. how many of these vaccines do you stand out and how many do you keep for your own country? how many do you keep for your own count ? ., ., how many do you keep for your own count ? ., ,, ,, thank you. and we've just had the latest figures. the uk has reported 95 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test. the figures are still going in the right direction. the figures are still going in the right direction. 6,303 new covid—i9 cases have also been reported today. those are the figures on the screen. we have also got 25.7 million people have also received their first dose. those are the latest figures on the vaccination programme. 1.87 million have received their second dose. the big question is how might those figures be affected if there is a delay in vaccinations because of the supply problems throughout the next few weeks? let's get more from our political correspondent damian grammaticas. the government is anxious to reassure people, those people who have made appointments already, that they will be able to get their vaccines?— they will be able to get their vaccines? , , ., they will be able to get their vaccines? , , . ., vaccines? yes, they have said all existin: vaccines? yes, they have said all existing appointments _ vaccines? yes, they have said all existing appointments will - vaccines? yes, they have said all existing appointments will be - existing appointments will be honoured and will continue to happen. the letter that was sent out yesterday from nhs england to all of those hospitals, the vaccine centres, the gp surgeries, who are performing these vaccinations, had said take no new bookings through the month of april. what the health secretary has said today is that should still mean it is possible, and they will continue to do, all the second doses that people are now due. people who had first dose is ten or 12 weeks ago and are coming due now will continue, because it is important they get those on time. equally, all the priority, or any remaining priority cases, people with particular health conditions, things like that, should be able to get them as well. also the over 50s. but the health secretary did say in the comments that should mean there will continue to be first dose is being given as well through april, however it does also mean that because of these constraints on supply that things will have to go a bit slower for a few weeks. 50 it supply that things will have to go a bit slower for a few weeks.- bit slower for a few weeks. so it is the over 40s _ bit slower for a few weeks. so it is the over 40s we _ bit slower for a few weeks. so it is the over 40s we are _ bit slower for a few weeks. so it is the over 40s we are talking - bit slower for a few weeks. so it is| the over 40s we are talking about, the over a0s we are talking about, the over a0s we are talking about, the roll—out of vaccinations for them, that potentially could slow in them, that potentially could slow in the next three to six weeks? it seems so because at the moment what we have is this call that went out yesterday expanding the programme to the over 50s. they are dropping down through the age ranges and it is now anyone 50 and over has been invited to come forward. but it appears it will probably pause at that point while the roll—out continues in that group and then the government assesses the ongoing vaccine supply. it is a sort of moving picture all the time. the difficulty seems to be they have got bumper supplies now, but for a couple of weeks ahead it is looking a little bit more constrained. is is looking a little bit more constrained.— is looking a little bit more constrained. , ., ., constrained. is that government convinced it _ constrained. is that government convinced it can _ constrained. is that government convinced it can meet _ constrained. is that government convinced it can meet its - constrained. is that governmenti convinced it can meet its overall target of all adults by the end of the summer?— target of all adults by the end of the summer? . , ., , _ the summer? that is what they say, and not even _ the summer? that is what they say, and not even by _ the summer? that is what they say, and not even by the _ the summer? that is what they say, and not even by the end _ the summer? that is what they say, and not even by the end of- the summer? that is what they say, and not even by the end of the - and not even by the end of the summer. mid—july is the target for all adults. summer. mid—july is the target for alladults. by summer. mid—july is the target for all adults. by mid april is the target for all over 50s. it seems to be well on track for the over 50s. confidence is what they are expressing. of course we have to see what happens with the supplies. as you are hearing, that depends on what happens with producers and the situation with a pandemic in other countries. ., ., situation with a pandemic in other countries. ., ,, , ., ., countries. 0k, thank you. damian grammaticas- _ a review by the european union's medicines regulator has concluded the oxford—astrazeneca covid—19 vaccine is "safe and effective". the european medicines agency said the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. it follows the suspension of the jab by several eu nations. the world heatlh organisation has underlined the urgent need for vaccines, as it says more than 20,000 people are dying each week in europe from covid—19. speaking at a news conference in the past hour, the regulator's executive director, emer cooke, said that the committee would continue to study possible links between rare blood clots and the vaccine. our expert committee on the safety of medicines, the pharmaceutical vigilance risk committee, has now come to a conclusion on the review of cases of blood clots in people vaccinated with astrazeneca's covid—19 vaccine. the committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits in protecting people from covid—19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks. the committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots. now, during the investigation and review we began to see a small number of cases of rare and unusual but very serious clotting disorders and this then triggered a more focused review. based on the evidence available and after days of in—depth analysis of lab results, clinical reports, autopsy reports and further information from the clinical trials, we still cannot rule out definitively a link between these cases and the vaccine. the european medicines agency. our health correspondent nick triggle is with me. nick, bring us up to date. no, it is very much what experts expected. when you vaccinate millions of people, it is very much expected that some people will die or become ill after being vaccinated, but that does not mean that the vaccination caused that, it is just coincidence, that these things would happen naturally anyway. what the regulators do, both the eu regulator and the regulator in the uk have been looking at this, is to monitor the number of adverse events, to see if it is higher than normal levels, after vaccination. and as we have heard, the numbers of blood clots being seen generally are actually lower than you would expect. but there have been a number of rare cases of blood clots in the brain. there have been 18 of these across europe, five of them in the uk. but because they're so rare, it is hard to say whether they are above or below the normal expected thresholds. so, that means the regulators can't rule it out, and they have carried out detailed investigations into the individual cases, checking their medical history of the patients involved, to investigate that further, but they say that the benefits clearly outweigh the risk. and that is because, if we look at the 18 cases, thatis because, if we look at the 18 cases, that is out of around 20 million astrazeneca vaccinations done, so, one in a million chance. if you are over the edge of 75 and you become infected with covid, you have got a one in nine chance of dying. and if you are an a0s, much younger, you have still got a one in 1000 chance of dying. so, we know that this vaccine is highly effective. so even if it is causing these rare blood clots, and there is no evidence to suggest that it is, it would still be worth taking. and that is why the message is clear, vaccination should continue, people can be confident in the vaccine. but continue, people can be confident in the vaccine-— the vaccine. but the ema also said that they want _ the vaccine. but the ema also said that they want to _ the vaccine. but the ema also said that they want to put _ the vaccine. but the ema also said that they want to put out - the vaccine. but the ema also said that they want to put out an - that they want to put out an advisory, a warning, two doctors and those people who will be administering the vaccine, what form would that take, and roughly what might the wording be? well. would that take, and roughly what might the wording be?— would that take, and roughly what might the wording be? well, we are et to hear might the wording be? well, we are yet to hear the _ might the wording be? well, we are yet to hear the exact _ might the wording be? well, we are yet to hear the exact wording, - might the wording be? well, we are yet to hear the exact wording, but l yet to hear the exact wording, but what is going to be essential now, going forward, is very close monitoring of these cases, any cases of this rare blood clot getting reported in immediately, because what the regulators have had to go and do is to go back and ask for information and go through a lot of records to check how many cases of this blood clotting there have been. so, this will now be routinely reported into the regulators in europe and in the uk. on top of that, the regulator in the uk has issued some advice to the public, and they are saying, if people have and they are saying, if people have a headache for more than four days, after vaccination, a headache for more than four days, aftervaccination, or a headache for more than four days, after vaccination, or bruising away from the site where the vaccination was given, they should seek medical attention and ask advice from a doctor. . ., ., ., attention and ask advice from a doctor. w ., ,, , ., doctor. 0k, nick triggle, thank you for that. dr dan bunstone is an nhs gp and chief medical officer at push doctor. thanks forjoining us. the uk regulator, the eu regulator, is saying that the astrazeneca vaccine is safe as far as they are concerned, that makes sense to you? oh, absolutely right. as was talked about before, it reinforces what we all long suspect, and it is great news now t