the american private investigator who was paid by the sun newspaper l mac for information on meghan markle, he says he broke the law. this one in six female victims of sexual assault tell the police about it. we will be asking why they are so reluctant. and in rugby union, wales have their sights on a six nations —— six nations grand slam. hello, welcome to bbc news. the eu medical regulator has — in the clearest possible terms — backed the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. it follows a week in which several eu countries suspended their roll—out of the jab, citing fears over a link to blood clots in a small number of people. and here, the regulator confirmed it's been investigating five cases of a rare blood clot but confirmed its longstanding view that the oxford jab was safe. we've also had some more detail about why there's been a problem with the supply of vaccines to the uk, but the health secretary said no appointments would be cancelled. tonight, borisjohnson said, "we remain on track to reclaim our lives." here's our medical editor fergus walsh. every injection, every vaccine given is another person protected. half a million people a day are getting immunised at present. in hull, there was no sign of vaccine hesitancy over the oxford—astrazeneca jab, which more than a dozen eu countries have suspended using. i was waiting a long time. i'm in my 60s, and i've onlyjust really got mine, so i was just happy it's finally done. ijust took on board, "this is my appointment, this is what needs doing, this is keeping everyone safe, so let's go ahead and get it done." the uk medicines regulator said, after a rigorous review, there was no evidence that blood clots were caused by the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. it looked in particular at five cases of rare clots in the brain among 11 million people immunised by the nhs. all were men under 60, one of whom died. it said, given the link was unproven, the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed the potential side effects. for those in their 40s, the risk of dying after covid infection is one in a thousand. as a precautionary measure, it is advising anyone with a headache that lasts more than four days after vaccination to seek medical attention. there is no difference that blood clots in brains are occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination, for either vaccine. the public can have every confidence in the thoroughness of our review. and in amsterdam, the european medicines agency has come to the same conclusion about the astrazeneca jab. 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. the prime minister, who is 56, will get his first dose of the astrazeneca vaccine tomorrow and said all adults would be offered a jab by the end ofjuly. our progress along the road - to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, _ to see our families and friends - again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and, of course, our shops. _ all, of course, as long - as the data continue to go in the right direction, - and we meet our four tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait until may to get their first vaccine, because older people will be getting their second shot, and there won't be enough extra doses to go around, due to some supply issues. half of all adults in the uk have now had a first dose of vaccine. the head of the nhs in england, sir simon stevens, got the astrazeneca jab at westminster abbey. safe and effective vaccines will answer all our prayers, to be delivered from this pandemic. fergus walsh, bbc news. let's get more from our political correspondent damian grammaticas. a sense of relief, no doubt, we are back on track.— a sense of relief, no doubt, we are back on track. yes, we are on track to hit the target, _ back on track. yes, we are on track to hit the target, that _ back on track. yes, we are on track to hit the target, that had - back on track. yes, we are on track to hit the target, that had been - back on track. yes, we are on track to hit the target, that had been set at the outset of the vaccination programme number so that is the mid april target for all of the priority groups, everyone over 50 and everyone who is medically vulnerable to get a first vaccination. government had been hoping to be a bit ahead of that, and what it has now done is said there will be this slow down in the month to come, in april, because of the slowdown in vaccine deliveries, but overall, it doesn't expect at the minute that thatis doesn't expect at the minute that that is going to have an impact on that is going to have an impact on that target in april or the ultimate target of that which is that by the middle ofjuly, all adults, everyone over the age of 18, should have been offered a first dose, so the promised or was keen to point that out. he said despite this drop in supplies —— the prime minister was keen. he does think things are still on target. keen. he does think things are still on taruet. ., , ., ., ., ~ on target. damian grammaticas, thank ou for on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing _ on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing us _ on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing us up _ on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing us up to _ on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing us up to date. - on target. damian grammaticas, thank you for bringing us up to date. we - you for bringing us up to date. we will have more for you on vaccinations, butjust to bring you up—to—date on another story. the alex salmond inquiry has concluded that nicola sturgeon misled holyrood, the bbc understands. sources close to the holyrood committee say there has been majority vote that nicola sturgeon misled the committee. but a scottish parliament spokesperson said the committee is still finalising its report. nick eardley is monitoring all of this from glasgow for us, so what has emerged night? the this from glasgow for us, so what has emerged night? the committee are still meetin: has emerged night? the committee are still meeting at — has emerged night? the committee are still meeting at the _ has emerged night? the committee are still meeting at the moment, _ still meeting at the moment, actually, the report has not been finalised, so there is a bit of caution coming from some sources about what the final wording of this would be come seeking to people close to the committee tonight, sources are saying that there was a majority vote in the committee that nicola sturgeon had misled it when she gave evidence a couple of weeks ago. the exact details of that are not clear, and the scottish parliament is making it abundantly clear tonight that it has not finalised that report, but it doesn't seem that this committee is about to confirm that it believes the first minister of scotland misled committee when she gave evidence, that is a pretty significant moment, because depending on how it believes she has misled the committee and exactly how they think she came to that point, it could be this becomes the massive issue of the day leading up to holyrood breaking up before the scottish elections. there is only a week left of holyrood sitting before the official election period begins in scotland, and as i say, at the moment the committee has voted 5—4, sources are saying, that nicola sturgeon misled them when she gave evidence a couple of weeks ago. just talk us evidence a couple of weeks ago. just talk us through what the holyrood pressmen committee are saying tonight. indie pressmen committee are saying toniaht. ~ ., ., ., pressmen committee are saying toni. ht_ . ., ., ., ., , tonight. we have not heard anything officially from _ tonight. we have not heard anything officially from the _ tonight. we have not heard anything officially from the committee, - tonight. we have not heard anything officially from the committee, the i officially from the committee, the scottish part is saying that the deliberations are continuing and that there has not been any official decisions made, but speaking to people post to the committee who are around that process, it does seem that the vote on that crucial part about whether nicola sturgeon misled the committee and therefore this led parliament, that vote did happen this evening and it was 5—4 in majority of nicola sturgeon misleading the committee. the wording, as i say, is going to be really crucial, and that report, we don't expect to see that full report until tuesday, although there may be details leaking out in the next couple of days, but potentially really big moment and ministers who break the ministerial code in certain circumstances, by misleading parliament, may have to resign. i do not think the first minister of scotland is going to resign seven weeks out from an election, but we are at a very serious point in this process. alex salmond and nicola sturgeon have been accusing each other of not telling the truth, nicola sturgeon has accused mr salmond of coming up with conspiracy theories, but it was always this question of whether miss sturgeon had been complete the honest about when she found out about the various allegations against mr salmond, whether she told permit the truth and the committee the truth about exactly what she knew when —— parliament the truth. and all the indications for my source tonight, sources close to the committee, is they do not believe the story miss sturgeon has told them and the majority have come to the conclusion she misled the committee. hick. she misled the committee. nick, thanks so much _ she misled the committee. nick, thanks so much for— she misled the committee. nick, thanks so much for bringing - she misled the committee. nick, thanks so much for bringing us . she misled the committee. nick, thanks so much for bringing us up to date, nick eardley live for us in glasgow. let's go back to the situation with the european medical relator which has, in the clearest medical terms, cleared the oster —— oxford acids into vaccine. dr veronique trillet—lenoir mep is an oncologist and a member of the european parliament's public health and food safety committee. good of you to give us your time tonight. you feel confident, you feel happy now with what the conclusions when it comes to astrazeneca?— conclusions when it comes to astrazeneca? , , , astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news, astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news. the — astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news, the vaccine _ astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news, the vaccine is _ astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news, the vaccine is safe - astrazeneca? yes, it is very good news, the vaccine is safe and - news, the vaccine is safe and efficient. the analysis will be continued on an eventual new, atypical cases of blood clots, but we can safely start again the vaccination which was temporarily suspended. i think that it was legitimate to use the precautionary principle. there will be specific inquiries because there is a suspicion that some very rare places of atypical blood clots could happen. we have been transparent, and now we have to convince people it is important to go out and vaccinate against.— it is important to go out and vaccinate aaainst. �* ., ., ., vaccinate against. and how damaging do ou vaccinate against. and how damaging do you think — vaccinate against. and how damaging do you think concerns _ vaccinate against. and how damaging do you think concerns had _ vaccinate against. and how damaging do you think concerns had been - do you think concerns had been raised, and also, as a member of president macron's party, the things that he was saying, the concerns he had previously raised regarding over 65—year—old and the oxford astrazeneca vaccine, when it comes to public perception of this? how concerned are you it has perhaps made people fearful? the decision has been changed, _ made people fearful? the decision has been changed, and _ made people fearful? the decision has been changed, and we - made people fearful? the decision has been changed, and we now - made people fearful? the decision | has been changed, and we now use made people fearful? the decision - has been changed, and we now use the vaccine, whatever the age. the prime minister has announced that he will, our prime minister, like yours, announced that he would soon receive the vaccine. the french authorities will continue. as you know, we have always had in france a high level of vaccine hesitancy, so we have to work on education and information of the population, but i think that being transparent and showing the people that when we have even a very low suspicion of toxicity, we do what we have to do to make sure that the vaccine will be administered in safe conditions. bath the vaccine will be administered in safe conditions.— the vaccine will be administered in safe conditions. both boris johnson and jean castex, — safe conditions. both boris johnson and jean castex, they _ safe conditions. both boris johnson and jean castex, they both - safe conditions. both boris johnson and jean castex, they both doing i safe conditions. both boris johnson and jean castex, they both doing it| and jean castex, they both doing it tomorrow, aren't they? but in terms of when it comes to a pandemic like this, nations keeping their societies and their citizens safe, is it inevitable that there is going to be a sense of vaccine nationalism when it comes to something that people just want to keep their own citizens safe?— citizens safe? yes, i understand that perfectly- _ citizens safe? yes, i understand that perfectly. a _ citizens safe? yes, i understand that perfectly. a government. citizens safe? yes, i understand that perfectly. a government is| that perfectly. a government is responsible for its own citizens and has to protect them in priority. i have to say that i appreciated the words of prime minister boris johnson this afternoon, when he said that we have to work together. i agree with that. we are facing a worldwide disease, we are all in the same boat, and it is important to fight vaccine nationalism and do our best efforts to work together. {lilia best efforts to work together. 0k, dr veronique _ best efforts to work together. ok, dr veronique trillet—lenoir, mep, thank you very much for your thoughts. thank you. we can also speak to professor ian douglas. he is from the london school of hygiene and tropical medicine. professor douglas, you spent time, you spent several years, at the nhra, the uk regulator leigh battie when it comes to medicines. —— regulatory body for some when they say they do a thorough and careful review, just help us to understand what that kind of process looks like, how they can reach the decision that they have reached today. decision that they have reached toda . , ., , ., decision that they have reached toda. ,., ,., , ., today. this would be a very detailed look at all of — today. this would be a very detailed look at all of the _ today. this would be a very detailed look at all of the evidence _ today. this would be a very detailed look at all of the evidence that - today. this would be a very detailed look at all of the evidence that is i look at all of the evidence that is available to take on this particular issue, so they will have had people look through each of those individual case reports about clotting, looking to see if there were any details within them that might have hinted that they could have been caused by the vaccine. this would have been looked at by several people with different areas of expertise and then they would also have looked at all of the randomised trial data to see if there were any suggestions they are about clotting problems and then wider literature of anything else available come so it is a really rigorous and very thorough investigation they would have put this through to be able to reach this through to be able to reach this conclusion. there seems to be no evidence there is an increased risk of clotting problems.- no evidence there is an increased risk of clotting problems. when it comes to. — risk of clotting problems. when it comes to. they — risk of clotting problems. when it comes to, they talk _ risk of clotting problems. when it comes to, they talk about - risk of clotting problems. when it comes to, they talk about these i risk of clotting problems. when it. comes to, they talk about these rare cases, these specific rare cases of the blood clots, just help us understand how that relates the stop and also how often does that occur in the wider community? i and also how often does that occur in the wider community?— and also how often does that occur in the wider community? i was having a look today. — in the wider community? i was having a look today. trying — in the wider community? i was having a look today, trying to _ in the wider community? i was having a look today, trying to see _ in the wider community? i was having a look today, trying to see in - in the wider community? i was having a look today, trying to see in the - a look today, trying to see in the published literature how common those events are. and i think it is roughly around one in 100,000 people a year that might be expected to develop that problem. so it is pretty rare. they will be looking in detail at those cases. what is important to know is they will also be looking further to see whether there are any other aspects of those cases that made them look like they might have been caught —— might�*ve been clotting related, but there will be more studies in the next weeks and months, to see if there is any evidence of people getting the vaccine are more likely to have this kind of outcomes the people who are not. they were not believing any stones unturned, looking at and credit will detail in these problems.— these problems. talking of side effects, these problems. talking of side effects. the _ these problems. talking of side effects, the leaflets _ these problems. talking of side| effects, the leaflets distributed, they talk about headaches. just put that into context for everybody who may have concerns.— that into context for everybody who may have concerns. yeah, and i guess lots of us will — may have concerns. yeah, and i guess lots of us will know _ may have concerns. yeah, and i guess lots of us will know people _ may have concerns. yeah, and i guess lots of us will know people who - may have concerns. yeah, and i guess lots of us will know people who have l lots of us will know people who have had the vaccine and they have said about possible side effects that might have happened to them, and they tend to be things like a sore arm or, as you say, a headache or possible flu—like symptoms, and i thought the nhra in the european medicines agency did very well today giving up good advice to people that if these kind of events are fairly short—lived and last a couple of days, there is probably no need to worry. if they get worse over time or they are persisting for several days, that would be the point in time to think about consulting with medical experts, possibly dialling one on one or getting in touch with your gp, if you think that it is a problem ongoing or more severe than you might have expected.— you might have expected. professor dou~las, it you might have expected. professor douglas. it is _ you might have expected. professor douglas, it is really _ you might have expected. professor douglas, it is really good _ you might have expected. professor douglas, it is really good teacher. douglas, it is really good