takes place. thank you very much forjoining me. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. let's start with the astrazeneca vaccine. the european medicines agency has been examining its safety after more than a dozen eu members suspended it this week over health concerns. and today, we heard its verdict. the committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits in protecting people from covid—i9 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. that press conference took place in amsterdam, and our correspondent jean mackenzie was there. what they've been saying all along stands, that they think this is a vaccine in which the benefits massively outweigh the risks. it was striking, they pointed out there how many people have died in the eu every single day from covid. they said that last week, there was one date in which more than a quarter of a million people died, so really reiterating that this vaccine prevents people against hospitalisations, prevents people from death of covid. let's look at the context. the decision comes after more than a dozen countries across the eu, including germany, france, italy and spain, suspended their use of the astrazeneca vaccine earlier this week over blood clot concerns. we've already had reaction from some of them. the western german region of them. the western german region of rhineland is also resuming its used and ireland and sweden have also said they are reviewing the new ema advice. the reason they suspended the vaccine was reports of blood cost. of those people, there had been less than a0 blood blood cost. of those people, there had been less than a0 blood clots found. that's less than expected in a general population site bowl. some are a rare form found in the brain. here's what the ema had to say on that. 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. what the committee has therefore recommended is to raise awareness of these possible risks, making sure that they're included in the product information. drawing attention to these possible rare conditions and providing information to health care professionals and vaccinated people will help to spot and mitigate any possible side effects. we'll have more on the pandemic a little later. anthony lincoln is meeting his chinese counterpart. —— anthony bullington. the venue for this meeting is alaska. barbara plett usher is live with us from anchorage. they're not sure what to talk about. ., anchorage. they're not sure what to talk about. . ., , anchorage. they're not sure what to talk about. ., ., , , anchorage. they're not sure what to talk about. . ., , , ., talk about. there are many things to talk about. there are many things to talk about, things _ talk about. there are many things to talk about, things like _ talk about. there are many things to talk about, things like trade, - talk about, things like trade, things like human rights issues with regards to taiwan and hong kong and she and jane. these are areas where the biden administration has been very critical of chinese action —— xinjiang. they call maritime policy. all of these things the biden administration has been quite strongly it will raise in this meeting, and it has crucially been talking about these things with allies japan and south korea. antony blinken arrived from a trip from south korea where he exercise at the biden administration has made this hallmark of its china policy, i tried to rally allies, consult with allies to come up with a common approach to counter those behaviours. so the americans are saying that gives them a position of strength with which to meet the chinese but that means that they've been pushed back from the chinese who accuse them from interfering in their internal affairs, so it could be quite a testing meaning, but the goal of it was according to the us officials who spoke into it is to basically have a sit down, put their cars on the table, have a frank discussion about what they decisions are and try to figure out from there how they can handle this relationship.— how they can handle this relationshi. . . , relationship. barbara, if rallying allies is the _ relationship. barbara, if rallying allies is the hallmark _ relationship. barbara, if rallying allies is the hallmark of - relationship. barbara, if rallying allies is the hallmark of the - relationship. barbara, if rallying i allies is the hallmark of the biden approach, let's look at this from the chinese perspective. what are they looking for for this first encounters? i they looking for for this first encounters?— they looking for for this first encounters? ~ , encounters? i think the chinese were hoinu that encounters? i think the chinese were heping that in — encounters? i think the chinese were hoping that in relations _ encounters? i think the chinese were hoping that in relations -- _ hoping that in relations —— relations would improve under the biden administration because biden was at the forefront of barack 0bama's and engagement policy with china. he had quite a lot of meetings with the president at the time. relations deteriorated in the last year of the trump administration. you know mr trump had imposed pretty stiff tear ups on the chinese —— stiff tariffs. mr biden is very convinced that's not going to be the case. his own version of tough approach, not exactly like mr trump's, so i think with the chinese are hoping is to also get a real read from these top officials. a sense of where the biden administration is going to put its focus and how much flexibility there is. they had beforehand quite clearly said they would not have any interference in their red line. the chinese ambassador to washington said he also hoped there was going to be —— this would be a start for more regular communications to deal with those things that they were able to deal with, so again, i think it's... i think they have probably been not amused about the idea they would get a kind of engagement strategy like they had before. i strategy like they had before. i know there's a briefing coming up. i'll let you get into they are and out of the cold. let's turn back to our coverage of the pandemic. france announced a new month logging lockdown for the paris region. the prime minister said the country is suffering a third wave of new variants. hugh schofield is in paris. a , new variants. hugh schofield is in paris. , ., ., , new variants. hugh schofield is in paris. , ., ., paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. the _ paris. bad news for paris and the surrounding areas. the region... | surrounding areas. the region... because in these two regions, we are going to be back to november and the second confinement. not quite the same level of intensity as the first confinement because it schools will remain open and there a greater degree of freedom to move about in the days. but essentially, it's another lockdown. it will kick in on midnight tomorrow, friday, and be in for two months over the easter holiday. clearly the clinical evidence is so strong now, particularly in the paris region, where numbers are over a00 per hundred thousand. the where numbers are over 400 per hundred thousand.— where numbers are over 400 per hundred thousand. the world health oruanization hundred thousand. the world health organization has _ hundred thousand. the world health organization has given _ hundred thousand. the world health organization has given an _ hundred thousand. the world health organization has given an update - hundred thousand. the world health organization has given an update on| 0rganization has given an update on the situation across europe. it says more than 20,000 people in europe are dying each week from covid—i9. as countries ensure their second year of fighting it. the number of people - dying from covid—i9 in europe is higher now than it was this time last year. — reflecting the widespread hold this virus has. - the who said the virus was "moving east" with countries in central and eastern europe now seeing the worst of the impact. the current situation is most acute in parts of the region that - were successful in controlling the disease in the first- six months of 2020. it is in central europe, in- the balkans and the baltic states, where case incidents, _ hospitalisations and deaths are now among the highest in the world. this map shows that pattern playing out. at the start of february, some of the highest rates of death adjusted for population were in western europe, in the uk and spain. those are the darker coloured areas. as february turns into march, the darker colours move east, with the czech republic, hungary and bulgaria among the highest. countries in the balkans are in the grip of this latest wave. guy de launey is in slovenia. access to vaccines has been the main problem _ access to vaccines has been the main problem for— access to vaccines has been the main problem for countries in the western balkans, _ problem for countries in the western balkans, most of them have been hoping _ balkans, most of them have been hoping to— balkans, most of them have been hoping to get allegations from the covax _ hoping to get allegations from the covax scheme or from the european union _ covax scheme or from the european union and — covax scheme or from the european union. and when those haven't come through— union. and when those haven't come through in_ union. and when those haven't come through in a — union. and when those haven't come through in a timely fashion, it's put them — through in a timely fashion, it's put them into difficulties, so countries _ put them into difficulties, so countries like bosnia really haven't started _ countries like bosnia really haven't started their vaccination programmes at aii~ _ started their vaccination programmes at all. bosnia has been able to obtain — at all. bosnia has been able to obtain some limited supplies of vaccines— obtain some limited supplies of vaccines from serbia for its essential health care workers, but otherwise. — essential health care workers, but otherwise, the situation is severe in the _ otherwise, the situation is severe in the capital has been in a lockdown— in the capital has been in a lockdown situation and people are warning _ lockdown situation and people are warning that the situations could -et warning that the situations could get worse — warning that the situations could get worse there. even serbia, which has been _ get worse there. even serbia, which has been something of a success story— has been something of a success story on— has been something of a success story on the vaccination front, i've -ot story on the vaccination front, i've got problems as well. it's been able to source _ got problems as well. it's been able to source vaccine from china and russia _ to source vaccine from china and russia -- — to source vaccine from china and russia —— have got problems as well. more _ russia —— have got problems as well. more people — russia —— have got problems as well. more people than any other european country— more people than any other european country apart from the united kingdom. the case numbers are insurgent— kingdom. the case numbers are insurgent in the recent days, pushing _ insurgent in the recent days, pushing towards 900 per hundred thousand, and itjust goes to show that even— thousand, and itjust goes to show that even if— thousand, and itjust goes to show that even if you do have vaccines available, — that even if you do have vaccines available, it's not necessarily the end of— available, it's not necessarily the end of the — available, it's not necessarily the end of the story and serbia as well has now— end of the story and serbia as well has now entered a semi lockdown until next— has now entered a semi lockdown until next monday. italy has been holding a national day of remembrance for victims of the pandemic. flags were flying at half—mast in rome and elsewhere. last week, italy passed the threshold of 100,000 people dying from coronavirus. this time last year, it was the country hardest hit by the first wave. it was exactly a year ago today in fact that these pictures from the northern city of bergamo were shared around the world, showing a convoy of military trucks carrying dozens of bodies leaving for cremation elsewhere in italy as the city struggled to cope. this was bergamo today. italy's prime minister was there laying a wreath to honour the dead. he said a new memorial park, would be a reminder that these he said a new memorial park would be a reminder that these events should never happen again. translation: we are here today to promise our elders that it - will not happen again, that fragile people will be adequately treated and protected. only in this way will we respect the dignity of those who have left, this memorialforest will be a symbolic place for our redemption. inafew in a few minutes we will talk about how countries around the world are trying to use their influence to secure their own supplies. the creative head of the tokyo 0lympics has resigned after suggesting a female japanese entertainer be pretrade as a pig in the opening ceremony —— portrayed. here is nikki ward and the director of human initiatives. if it here is nikki ward and the director of human initiatives.— of human initiatives. if it were a corporation. _ of human initiatives. if it were a corporation, boat _ of human initiatives. if it were a corporation, boat remarks - of human initiatives. if it were a| corporation, boat remarks made of human initiatives. if it were a . corporation, boat remarks made by the head of the olympics and the greater director would be said to be creating a toxic workplace. but the reality is that women and girls in japan have to struggle mightily to access basic human rights. they face constant discrimination, constant harassment and human rights posted a report lastjuly documenting report last july documenting harassment report lastjuly documenting harassment and abuse. we interviewed 800 athletes across 50 sports, many were women and set essentially there's no one to call in the olympic system to complain to about 0lympic system to complain to about the harassment they experience. and that's not surprising given the position of the leadership. i'm ros atkins, this is 0utside source. 0ur lead story comes from europe because the european regulator has cleared the astrazeneca vaccine for use in spain in the netherlands havejoined italy and france and saying they will resume vaccinating with the astrazeneca jab. we were talking about this yesterday, there is a disruption in the supply of vaccines to the uk. it's because the world's largest manufacturer is delaying shipments. five million doses of the oxford astrazeneca jab being made by the serum institute have been held up by four weeks. that will mean fewer vaccinations in april. here's the prime minister. we will receive slightly fewer vaccines _ we will receive slightly fewer vaccines in april than in march, but that is— vaccines in april than in march, but that is still— vaccines in april than in march, but that is still more than we received in february — that is still more than we received in february. in the supply we do have _ in february. in the supply we do have will— in february. in the supply we do have will still enable us to hit the targets— have will still enable us to hit the targets we have set. let's have a look at the source of the supply issue — the serum institute. it's based in the city of pune, not far from india's commercial capital mumbai. it's aiming to make a billion doses of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine this year. its ceo spoke to bbc hardtalk last week. the government wanted to scale up its vaccination _ the government wanted to scale up its vaccination drive _ the government wanted to scale up its vaccination drive and _ the government wanted to scale up its vaccination drive and because i the government wanted to scale up its vaccination drive and because of| its vaccination drive and because of their suppliers _ its vaccination drive and because of their suppliers both— its vaccination drive and because of their suppliers both globally- its vaccination drive and because of their suppliers both globally and i its vaccination drive and because of their suppliers both globally and in| their suppliers both globally and in india their suppliers both globally and in india gave — their suppliers both globally and in india gave time _ their suppliers both globally and in india gave time to— their suppliers both globally and in india gave time to scale _ their suppliers both globally and in india gave time to scale up, - their suppliers both globally and in india gave time to scale up, they. india gave time to scale up, they needed _ india gave time to scale up, they needed the — india gave time to scale up, they needed the maximum _ india gave time to scale up, they needed the maximum volumes. india gave time to scale up, they. needed the maximum volumes they could _ needed the maximum volumes they could get— needed the maximum volumes they could get from — needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. _ needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. that— needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. that is— needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. that is why- needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. that is why i - needed the maximum volumes they could get from us. that is why i hadi could get from us. that is why i had to send _ could get from us. that is why i had to send out— could get from us. that is why i had to send out a — could get from us. that is why i had to send out a message _ could get from us. that is why i had to send out a message to _ could get from us. that is why i had to send out a message to all- could get from us. that is why i had to send out a message to all our. to send out a message to all our partners. — to send out a message to all our partners, friends _ to send out a message to all our partners, friends and _ to send out a message to all our partners, friends and countries i to send out a message to all our. partners, friends and countries that were expecting _ partners, friends and countries that were expecting more _ partners, friends and countries that were expecting more doses - partners, friends and countries that were expecting more doses in - partners, friends and countries that| were expecting more doses in these two to— were expecting more doses in these two to three — were expecting more doses in these two to three months _ were expecting more doses in these two to three months only. _ were expecting more doses in these two to three months only. that - were expecting more doses in these two to three months only. that they would _ two to three months only. that they would he _ two to three months only. that they would be facing _ two to three months only. that they would be facing a _ two to three months only. that they would be facing a few— two to three months only. that they would be facing a few delays, - two to three months only. that they would be facing a few delays, we . would be facing a few delays, we needed _ would be facing a few delays, we needed to— would be facing a few delays, we needed to take _ would be facing a few delays, we needed to take care _ would be facing a few delays, we needed to take care of— would be facing a few delays, we needed to take care of our- would be facing a few delays, we i needed to take care of our country. as well— needed to take care of our country. as well as— needed to take care of our country. as well as serving _ needed to take care of our country. as well as serving the _ needed to take care of our country. as well as serving the means - needed to take care of our country. as well as serving the means of. as well as serving the means of other— as well as serving the means of other nations _ as well as serving the means of other nations —— _ as well as serving the means of other nations —— the _ as well as serving the means of other nations —— the needs. - this has raised questions about vaccine nationalism when a country prioritises its access to a vaccine above everyone else getting it. here's the bbc�*s nikhil inamdar in mumbai. the delay really is one account of a higher demand of domestic supplies. just today in the parliament, india's minister also saying that overseas supplies of vaccines would be categorically dependent on adequate availability at home. in some sense indicating that india is that prioritising domestic supply that prioritising domestic supply that we seen. just over the last 2a hours, india has seen fresh new infections of covid—i9 in excess of 35,000 people and we seen a second wave of at least 12 of the provinces here. it already has an immunisation programme under way to vaccinate 300 million people byjuly, so certainly we will need to step it up given the cases we've seen. so, that's india. yesterday, the president of the european commission threatened to cut off vaccine exports to countries that refused to share their own supplies. and the united states is using export controls to stop vaccine doses being sent abroad without government authorisation. that's being done under a law called the defence production act, which was first introduced during the korean war in the 1950s. let's hear from supply chain expert dr sarah schiffling. it's the same sort of idea behind the procurement in every country. everybody — the procurement in every country. everybody is trying to protect their own people first, whether that is the eu, — own people first, whether that is the eu, the us, the uk. the us has been _ the eu, the us, the uk. the us has been trying — the eu, the us, the uk. the us has been trying to reinvent supplies for american _ been trying to reinvent supplies for american companies, and now with india _ american companies, and now with india having — american companies, and now with india having the same problem, everyone — india having the same problem, everyone wants to vaccinate their own populations. but we need to consider— own populations. but we need to consider there is a global pandemic and we _ consider there is a global pandemic and we do — consider there is a global pandemic and we do need to vaccinate the world _ and we do need to vaccinate the world rather than individual countries. of course, that's really hard _ countries. of course, that's really hard to— countries. of course, that's really hard to communicate. dtl professor bhramar mukherjee is a global health researcher at the university of michigan. thank you very much for your time. i wonder whether this kind of tension around vaccine supplies was inevitable, given the pressures the pandemic creates. i inevitable, given the pressures the pandemic creates.— pandemic creates. i think the extension _ pandemic creates. i think the extension was _ pandemic creates. i think the extension was very _ pandemic creates. i think the | extension was very inevitable, pandemic creates. i think the - extension was very inevitable, and i think india made the mistake of thinking there was a one out of two people who already have antibodies, and they are probably going to reach the herd immunity. i heard this from many of my colleagues. this new surge... and a0,000 cases every day. fortunately, the hospitalisation and deaths are still control, but i think this... 800 million adults need to be vaccinated and you need two doses for each of them, and 10 million doses every day will let you achieve this over six months. so, that's the numbers we're talking about, so i think it has been more proactive than vigilant —— proactive and vigilant. but proactive than vigilant -- proactive and vigilant-— and vigilant. but if the indian authorities _ and vigilant. but if the indian authorities are _ and vigilant. but if the indian authorities are being - and vigilant. but if the indian authorities are being diligent| and vigilant. but if the indian - authorities are being diligent about the demand inside india, is it inevitable that they're not on supplies around the world, including via the covax scheme? i supplies around the world, including via the covax scheme?— via the covax scheme? i think here is the question _ via the covax scheme? i think here is the question of _ via the covax scheme? i think here is the question of policy _ via the covax scheme? i think here is the question of policy and - is the question of policy and optimising between balancing, the trade—offs between vaccinating india, and i think speeding up shipment and having a collaborative effort so that production would scale up so that india with 1.3 billion people and 800 billion adults can get vaccinated as well as the rest of the world. we have to reach our global inoculation rate —— 800 million. i can see sentiments on both sides of the argument. i’m both sides of the argument. i'm interested. _ both sides of the argument. i'm interested, we _ both sides of the argument. i'm interested, we just heard from prime minister borisjohnson saying a delay in the shipment from india will impact on the vaccination programme in the uk. is the us also reliance on indian produced vaccines? 50 reliance on indian produced vaccines?— reliance on indian produced vaccines? . ., ., . vaccines? so far, i have not heard that. i vaccines? so far, i have not heard that- ithink— vaccines? so far, i have not heard that. l think in — vaccines? so far, i have not heard that. i think in particular- vaccines? so far, i have not heard that. i think in particular becausel that. i think in particular because the serum institute is doing the astrazeneca vaccine. in us mostly, we have had johnson &johnson, pfizer and moderna, so that's why i don't think they are relying on india. ., ~' ,, , don't think they are relying on india. ., ~ ,, , . don't think they are relying on india. . ,, i. , . ., don't think they are relying on india. ., ~ , . ., india. thank you very much for your time. india. thank you very much for your time- thanks _ india. thank you very much for your time. thanks so _ india. thank you very much for your time. thanks so much. _ india. thank you very much for your time. thanks so much. as - india. thank you very much for your time. thanks so much. as we - india. thank you very much for your time. thanks so much. as we gone| india. thank you very much for your i time. thanks so much. as we gone all week, time. thanks so much. as we gone all week. let's — time. thanks so much. as we gone all week. let's turn _ time. thanks so much. as we gone all week, let's turn back— time. thanks so much. as we gone all week, let's turn back to _ time. thanks so much. as we gone all week, let's turn back to the _ week, let's turn back to the situation on the border between the us and mexico. recent weeks have seen a marked increase in arrivals and many of those making the journey believe they'll have an easier chance of crossing into the us under the biden administration. but on tuesday, joe biden put out a clear message to those thinking of making thejourney — �*don't come'. but the numbers of those arriving is high. in february alone, a hundred thousand people were arrested at the border between the united states and mexico. nine and a half thousand of those were children. and while most adults and families are being turned away, unaccompanied children are being let through — more than a,000 are being held in immigration facilities while their cases are being processed. bbc mundo's marcos gonzales has spent time with those making the journey. the shelter cannot accept all the people waiting here every single day. 0utside people waiting here every single day. outside of the shelter, we meet michael. he's a 17 has been walking from honduras for five days. translation: he walked hundreds of kilometres with these worn—out shoes. but michael believes that being under 18 will help to enter the united states. the next morning, under the sun and with little water, michael resumes his journey. with little water, michael resumes hisjourney. their cause with little water, michael resumes his journey. their cause and with little water, michael resumes hisjourney. their cause and mexico, a journey that could take up to 30 days. they are hungry and afraid of getting arrested. six hours later, the walking has been a real challenge. michael has a message for those planning to make this trip. michael will probably walk all night until the next shelter. he still has a few weeks ahead to reach the border. migrants who are travelling north towards the border between the us and mexico. remember you can find much more analysis from outside source online from a number of different places. each week, we tackle a different subject. you can see our videos on bbc news website. if you're in the uk, you can find them on iplayer. go to the news category or if you prefer download and listen to our analysis, you can get that through the bbc sound app. the easiest way to find these versions is to search my name and you'll very easily get to them. a reminder of our lead story, the european medicines agency, which offers advice to members of the european on union on which medicines can be used has reiterated its position that the oxford astrazeneca vaccine is safe to use. this is had by news because many eu countries had suspended its use, but this is actually a reiteration of the position it said on tuesday and a reiteration of the position and held prior to that. the reason that we're putting the spotlight back is a number of high—profile including germany and france have made a big splash by saying they were suspending use of the vaccine because of concerns over blood clotting. we should be absolutely clear the number of cases a blood clotting is very, very low in the context of the number of vaccines, and there's no evidence linking the vaccines to that blood clotting which presumably contributed to the ema saying the vaccine is safe to use. for many of us, it was quite a cloudy day and that's how it's going to stay for the next few days. there was very little change on the weather front with high pressure very close to the uk. having said that, in one or two areas, the skies did clear today and it was in fact the warmest day of the year so far in scotland. temperatures got up to around 18 celsius, but that really was the exception for many of us. it was nowhere near as warm. here's the high pressure through thursday evening. it's going to stick around for the next few days, and i think it'll change the shape a little bit but essentially speaking, it means a fair amount of cloud coming in from the north or the northwest. bits and pieces of light rain and drizzle through the night from yorkshire into the east midlands, the southeast too. around six to 7 degrees, but where skies are clearer in scotland and glasgow, around three degrees first thing. a lot of cloud. damp weather in the morning, particularly across the southeast of the country, but later in the afternoon, it looks as though sunshine will develop from norwich to london, possibly portsmouth as well and want or two warmer spots in western scotland. glasgow may be getting up to around 15 celsius. the forecast as we go through saturday and the weekend, the first day of spring, astronomical spring. the high pressure is dragging in that cloud into western parts of scotland and on the whole, i think it is going to remain pretty cloudy across the board. maybe to the east of the pennines a bit of sunshine developing on saturday around some newcastle and hull. temperatures around 11 degrees or so. second half, the high pressure is still with us. this is the jet stream overlay. you can see the jet streams way to the north of us sending in any weather systems in the direction of in the navy and iceland. things remained settled as far as the eye can see —— into scandinavia. temperatures around 12, 13 degrees. the weather is expected to change and of course it will change, but thatis and of course it will change, but that is not going to happen until sometime from the middle of next week, where things will turn more and unsettled. that's it for me, bye—bye. hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. european countries are restarting vaccinations with astrazeneca after the regulator confirms it is safe. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits in protecting people from covid—19 with the associated risk of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risk.— possible risk. germany, the netherlands _ possible risk. germany, the netherlands italy _ possible risk. germany, the netherlands italy and - possible risk. germany, the| netherlands italy and france possible risk. germany, the - netherlands italy and france have also say they will resume vaccination with astrazeneca and they were among a dozen which paused at the reports of blood clots. your secretary of state anthony blinking is an alaska holding the first high—level meeting between the us administration and china. and we were put on a serious outbreak of coronavirus and papua new guinea where the health system is struggling to cope. also attends any apartment president magufuli has died. he was known for being a covid—19 sceptic and speculation he may have had the virus when he lost his life with that that tanzania thepresident. let's go straight to washington. president biden is talking about the vaccine roll—out. brute president biden is talking about the vaccine roll-out.— vaccine roll-out. we also supply vaccines to _ vaccine roll-out. we also supply vaccines to community - vaccine roll-out. we also supply vaccines to community health i vaccines to community health centres, to reach those who have been the hardest hit, the hardest hit come and suffer the most. especially black, latino, native american and rural communities. this is really important. because we believe that speed and efficiency must be matched with fairness and equity. when president harrison i took a virtual tour of the vaccination centre in arizona, not long ago, one of the nurses on that tour injecting people and giving vaccinations said that each shot was like administering a dose of hope. a dose of hope. that is how she phrased it. behind these 100 million shots, are millions of lives changed when people receive that dose of hope. grandparents can hug their grandchildren again. front line workers, who can show at theirjobs without the same fear they used to have. teachers, with the confidence he headed back into the classroom. these milestones are significant accomplishments, but we have much more to do, much more to do. an american rescue plan will help us do it. in addition to the cash payments that they provide to you and your family come and also provides the funds that had vaccinated us to supply more community vaccination support centres and increase testing. it will help us accelerate nationwide efforts to reopen our school safely. as i told the nation last week, i have directed all states, tribes and territories to make all adults eligibility vaccinated no later than may the 1st. i'm glad to see that all the states are already taking that step to make more and more americans eligible, even before may one. tomorrow we will hit 100 million doses are administration has administered. but like i said, that isjust the administered. but like i said, that is just the floor. we will not stop until we beat this pandemic. next week, i will announce our next goal, to put shots at arms. this is a time for optimism. but it is not a time for optimism. but it is not a time for relaxation. i need all americans, i need all of you to do your part, wash your hands, stay socially distance, keep masking up as recommended by the cdc, and get vaccinated when it is your turn. now it's not the time to let down our guard. in the last week, we have seen increases in the number of cases of several states. scientists have made clear that things may get worse as new variants of this virus spread. getting vaccinated is the best thing we can do to fight back against these variants. while millions of people are vaccinated, but we need billions more to be vaccinated. and again, i need you to get vaccinated when it is your turn and you're able to do that. i need your help. i need you to help. not just the country, but your family and friends and neighbours, get them vaccinated as well. if we keep our guard up, stick together, and stick with the science we can look forward to the ath ofjuly that feels a bit more normal. small groups able to gatherfor more normal. small groups able to gather for cookouts and backyards, and wondered where we would begin to declare our independence on independence day from the virus. look together, we will come to this stronger, with renewed faith in each other, and a government that fulfils this most important function, protecting the american people. let me be clearagain, protecting the american people. let me be clear again, wearing this mask in the meantime, making sure you wash your hands, making sure you socially distance and listen to the cdc, we have got to reach the point where we have heard immunity, meaning we have a vast majority of american people have been vaccinated. before we can stop wearing these. so please, please, don't that make you see what is happening in europe. keep the faith, keep wearing the mask. keep washing your hands. keep socially distance. we will beat this. we are way ahead of schedule. but we have a long way to go. i want to bring you up—to—date and i thank you very much and god bless america and may god protect our troops. thank you so much. ~ ., , protect our troops. thank you so much. ~ . , ~ much. with that, president biden turns and walks _ much. with that, president biden turns and walks away, _ much. with that, president biden turns and walks away, he - much. with that, president biden turns and walks away, he had - much. with that, president biden turns and walks away, he had a l turns and walks away, he had a number of important messages they are to americans, he said it is a time for optimism but it is not a time for optimism but it is not a time to let our guard down. not a time to let our guard down. not a time to let our guard down. not a time to be complacent. he said that when million us vaccines, that target will be met this week a target will be met this week a target he set before taking up office, 100 million vaccines by this week. he said 65% of people 65 years or over it would have received at least one shot as well. but more broadly message was come interesting to hear him say, look at europe, we don't want to be like the situation in europe. i wonder what people in brussels will make of that comment. but he said do not get complacent here come he mentioned the ath of july saying this to be a moment work and have some independence but not yet. and he kept referring to the mask and the social distancing and kept referring to washing hands. that is the president in american god talking about the pandemic there. let's turn back to europe. our lead story is an assurance coming from the european medicines agency, the ema that the astrazeneca vaccine is that i quote safe and effective. in response to that news, most of the countries that had suspended use of the astrazeneca vaccine have now confirmed that they will resume. germany, france, spain, italy, portugal, latvia, and the netherlands have all confirmed they will resume the use of the astrazeneca vaccine. ireland and sweden say they will review the new advice. let's bring in damien mcginnis from berlin. it does beg the question why the countries could have waited three days for the ama to complete their assessment. that’s to complete their assessment. that's ema. a to complete their assessment. that's ema- a very — to complete their assessment. that's ema. a very controversial _ to complete their assessment. “trust�*s ema. a very controversial decision in germany. the health minister when he announced it three days ago that germany would temporarily be positing the use of the astrazeneca vaccine, there was a cry of outrage across the country because that was seen as a key part of really getting quite a sluggish vaccine programme going. the problem was though that officials, medical officials had then got along with the ema initial hesitancy and had flagged them questions about whether there were possible health risk connected to the initial blood clotting after it was very difficult for a minister to then say we will ignore those warnings and go ahead anyway. so it was in a tricky position come who it was in a tricky position come who it was an unpopular decision now i think a lot of people will be relieved that germany a straightaway is going to start re—you using the astrazeneca vaccine so the health minister has just announced that from tomorrow that vaccine will again be used, the last few days, some vaccination centres had closed down because they use astrazeneca, now those vaccination centres are being reopened first thing tomorrow morning and that is really important for some key workers because that is the vaccine that is being used for a lot of workers such as teachers, police officers, workers in kindergarten, and now it is a real slap in the face for some of those people thinking they have the appointment already and steadily they were going to get the vaccine. they will be relieved that that vaccine is going to head and a course to be question is is this not going to make other people worried about the safety of the astrazeneca vaccine, so that is somewhat the government will have to do really to reestablish trust in that particular 93p- reestablish trust in that particular i a . _ ., ~' reestablish trust in that particular a a n . ., " , ., reestablish trust in that particular .a . _ ., ~' , ., , . reestablish trust in that particular ua., ., ~' , ., , . . �* reestablish trust in that particular gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue _ gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue in _ gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue in detail _ gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue in detail in - gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue in detail in a - gap. thank you very much. we'll talk about that issue in detail in a few- about that issue in detail in a few minutes on outside source. every week on the programme we produce a video for the bbc news website which takes an in—depth look at one of the big issues of the week. this week, we have looked at the oxford academic vaccine after a number of european countries and suspended issues. —— astrazeneca. we will look at a puzzle. the puzzle is how the astrazeneca vaccine which was hailed as a vital achievement now find yourself in a scientific and political storm because from the start, it was also seeing as being particularly important. seeing as being particularly important-— important. this is a really significant _ important. this is a really significant moment - important. this is a really significant moment in - important. this is a really significant moment in thej important. this is a really - significant moment in the fight against this pandemic. the vaccine is the way out. and the approval of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine brings forward the data which we will bring this pandemic to an end. the leading him told us in december two —— the leading immunologists... so we have a vaccine that is relatively cheap, easy to store, vital to the global roll—out in which the uk, european regulators and the who all say is fine to use. so why is this happening?- so why is this happening? france, german , so why is this happening? france, germany. and _ so why is this happening? france, germany, and italy _ so why is this happening? france, germany, and italy are _ so why is this happening? france, germany, and italy are among - so why is this happening? france, - germany, and italy are among several countries to suspend the use of the astrazeneca vaccine over safety fears. in astrazeneca vaccine over safety fears. ., , astrazeneca vaccine over safety fears. . , , , fears. in the last ten days these euro ean fears. in the last ten days these european countries _ fears. in the last ten days these european countries have - fears. in the last ten days these european countries have all- european countries have all restricted the use of astrazeneca vaccine. many have completely suspended issues. all have acted on concerns about blood clotting. despite there being no evidence to link this vaccine and blood clotting. in the european regulator did not have been clearer. this vaccine is _ did not have been clearer. this vaccine is safe _ did not have been clearer. this vaccine is safe and _ did not have been clearer. t'i 3 vaccine is safe and effective in preventing covid—19 and its benefits continue to be far greater than its risk. ~ ., ., , ., _, , continue to be far greater than its risk. ~ ., ., , ., risk. we have european countries out of s nc risk. we have european countries out of sync with — risk. we have european countries out of sync with the _ risk. we have european countries out of sync with the european _ risk. we have european countries out of sync with the european regulator. | of sync with the european regulator. and these are the first issues that astrazeneca is face. farfrom it. first of all, the company initially put out confusing statements about how effective this vaccine is. some studies report around 90%, others 62%. one headline at the time brad... here is another. after admitting mistakes astrazeneca faces difficult questions about its vaccines. the article goes on to say express that the company spidey disclosures have eroded confidence. doubts were created and they started to take hold. weeks later, those doubts grew after the french president emmanuel macron intervened saying the real problem with astrazeneca... mr macron was wrong on that. it was a shortage of data for the over 65 but everything suggested the vaccine would be effective. despite that, some countries restricted astrazeneca for older people, then later those restrictions were lifted. and by this point, a perception was developing. here is the bbc europe correspondentjean mackenzie reporting. here is one woman at a vaccination centre in berlin this week. translation: it centre in berlin this week. translation:— centre in berlin this week. translation: ., , �* , translation: it doesn't exactly ins - ire translation: it doesn't exactly insire a translation: it doesn't exactly inspire a lot _ translation: it doesn't exactly inspire a lot of— translation: it doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence - translation: it doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence now. i inspire a lot of confidence now. because there is also a lot of discussion already at work, do i get vaccinated or not. this discussion already at work, do i get vaccinated or not.— vaccinated or not. this evidence is then 'ust vaccinated or not. this evidence is then just anecdotal. _ vaccinated or not. this evidence is then just anecdotal. this - vaccinated or not. this evidence is then just anecdotal. this french . thenjust anecdotal. this french survey was conducted at the suspensions were announced. only 20% of people said they had confidence in astrazeneca for the pfizer vaccine commit 52%. let's remember the context here. confidence in astrazeneca falls in europe, infections still rise. empty streets infections still rise. empty streets in rome after much of it till back into lockdown, the situation were sitting in italy and elsewhere. my colleague nick beek has reported. in prague, and paris, and once again in bergamot come in northern italy. covered patients gasped for air. the nightmare of a third wave israel. and the issue of the speed of the vaccine roll—out. you can see here eu member states are vaccinating far more slowly than the uk in the us. infection rates, hospitalisation, vaccination speed come astrazeneca jab could help address all of this. but if the uk deputy chief medical officer put it this week,... vaccines don't save lives. if they are in fridges. they only save lives if they are in arms.— if they are in arms. what is going on here? how— if they are in arms. what is going on here? how do _ if they are in arms. what is going on here? how do we _ if they are in arms. what is going on here? how do we get - if they are in arms. what is going on here? how do we get to - if they are in arms. what is going on here? how do we get to the i if they are in arms. what is going - on here? how do we get to the point that this vaccine is not being used as much as he could be? i have four possible explanations. pr, process, politics, and first, patients. norwegian patients. cluster the atients norwegian patients. cluster the patients we _ norwegian patients. cluster the patients we are _ norwegian patients. cluster the patients we are talking - norwegian patients. cluster the patients we are talking about i norwegian patients. cluster the l patients we are talking about are not the more common clots like the brain thumb process. very rare in severe cases with critical outcome in a very young population. where this is not common scene. the norwegian _ this is not common scene. the norwegian point _ this is not common scene. the norwegian point being that these red blood clots in a very small number of patients warrant a suspension but to be clear, these incidents are no more frequent than they would be in a regular population sample. there is no proven connection at all. nonetheless, norway decided to act in that influence other countries. if that is the first actor, the second is politics. an awful lot of politics. this was a warning from the eu this month. we politics. this was a warning from the eu this month.— politics. this was a warning from the eu this month. we want to see re of the eu this month. we want to see rep of prosody _ the eu this month. we want to see rep of prosody and _ the eu this month. we want to see rep of prosody and proportionalityl rep of prosody and proportionality and exports and we are ready to use whatever tools we need to deliver. —— reciprocity. all about where the astrazeneca doses produced in the uk are being fairly distributed to the eu and if you want to measure the political scale of this threat to block exports, europe hasn't really done anything like this since an oil crisis in 1973. in some quarters, it is not gone down well. political quotes one uk cabinet minister saying... —— political quoted... the eu would have none of that. make no mistake, every vaccine roll—out is political. the political pressure to get it right is immense. astrazeneca finds itself in the middle of a broader political tensions between the uk in the eu, and european tensions around the vaccine roll—out. have a look at this. here we have the head of italy's medicine authority on those astrazeneca suspension saying the choice is a political one. or this, a leading expert on the impact of pharmaceutical drugs on population. once one of them starts doing it, then they get a collective anxiety. they don't want to be standing out. they don't want to be standing out. they don't want to be the only ones going on delivering good. the they don't want to be the only ones going on delivering good.— going on delivering good. the idea bein: that going on delivering good. the idea being that if _ going on delivering good. the idea being that if an _ going on delivering good. the idea being that if an influential - going on delivering good. the idea being that if an influential country | being that if an influential country like germany takes action, it becomes politically uncomfortable for france, italy and others to be out of step. decisions, good and bad, can quickly be amplified. and to some extent, that is the nature of the eu political structure. one part unified, one part a collection of member states who influence each other. if those political currents of impacted astrazeneca, there is a number factor to of impacted astrazeneca, there is a numberfactor to it. process. the economist moore learned correspondence we did not key for sweet in mind as we listen to emmanuel macron. —— keep it sweet. translation: ~ ., sweet. translation: ~ . _ ., translation: we are led here by a simle translation: we are led here by a simple guide — translation: we are led here by a simple guide informed _ translation: we are led here by a simple guide informed by _ translation: we are led here by a simple guide informed by science i translation: we are led here by a. simple guide informed by science and the relevant authorities, also doing so within the framework of a european strategy.— so within the framework of a european strategy. so within the framework of a euro ean strate: . . ., ., ~ , european strategy. that framework is crucial. frameworks _ european strategy. that framework is crucial. frameworks and _ european strategy. that framework is crucial. frameworks and processes i crucial. frameworks and processes are crucial to regulating medicine. but at a time of maximum pressure, they risk being inflexible and slow. and crucially, also risk influencing what people think of this vaccine with that which brings me to my fourth factor. pr. this is the prime minister of thailand having an astrazeneca jab after the country ended his suspension of it. he said he wanted to boost confidence in the vaccine. the who encourages this kind of thing. this is perhaps a tactic for a simpler time. photo ops really be any match for the tsunami of information online? we know once doubts exist, they spread. rapidly. it is a senior us epidemiologist. this is part of the challenge of... regulators, politicians and companies aren'tjust taking companies aren't just taking decisions companies aren'tjust taking decisions about science. they are taking decisions about information. as we consider how astrazeneca got to this point, i think a doctor ted ross famous line. this one. know when is safe _ ross famous line. this one. know when is safe until _ ross famous line. this one. know when is safe until everybody - ross famous line. this one. know when is safe until everybody is . when is safe until everybody is safe. ., �* , when is safe until everybody is safe. . �*, ,, ., , safe. that's know when they say. this is a global _ safe. that's know when they say. this is a global problem - safe. that's know when they say. this is a global problem which i this is a global problem which requires a global solution. the astrazeneca vaccine was and is essential to that solution. that makes it disorientating when we see the point is reached in europe. with a short clip of doctor anthony cox perhaps offers us a clue as to how to make sense of the. this perhaps offers us a clue as to how to make sense of the.— to make sense of the. this isn't errin: to make sense of the. this isn't erring on _ to make sense of the. this isn't erring on the — to make sense of the. this isn't erring on the side _ to make sense of the. this isn't erring on the side of _ to make sense of the. this isn't erring on the side of caution. it| to make sense of the. this isn't i erring on the side of caution. it is throwing caution to the wind. perhaps it is both. science regulation is cautious with good reason. place this caution into a world where misinformation and a virus around control and caution designed to keep people safe risk having the opposite effect, astrazeneca has caught right in the middle of that. this is from the company. middle of that. this is from the com an . , ., , middle of that. this is from the coman. , ,, middle of that. this is from the coman. , , ., middle of that. this is from the company-— company. this has been for me robabl company. this has been for me probably the — company. this has been for me probably the toughest - company. this has been for me probably the toughest i've i company. this has been for me i probably the toughest i've worked company. this has been for me - probably the toughest i've worked on in terms of the goldfish bowl environment you are and where every single thing is scrutinise, politicise, turned around, misrepresented.- politicise, turned around, misrepresented. politicise, turned around, misreresented. . , , misrepresented. that was probably inevitable. this _ misrepresented. that was probably inevitable. this vaccine _ misrepresented. that was probably inevitable. this vaccine is - misrepresented. that was probably| inevitable. this vaccine is becoming a real—time lesson in how our systems and politics are struggling to cope with this pandemic. and how it doubt and suspicion are easily created and very hard to raise. a lesson being learned hard way. inafew in a few minutes on outside source we will be live in papua new guinea where a serious outbreak of covid—19 is threatening to overwhelm the health system. the health secretary has announced an additional 6.6 billion pounds of funding for the nhs in england. the money will be spent on continuing to deal with the coronavirus — but there was also a pledge to start tackling the ever growing backlog of procedures that have been postponed during the pandemic. our health editor hugh pym has been hearing from one hospital boss about the scale of the task ahead. this experience was like being in a little bit of a hotel. yeah. getting feedback from patients. marcel levi tours wards at university college london hospitals. he is both consultant and chief executive, and soon will head back to his native holland to become the dutch government's chief scientific adviser. he is full of praise for the work of staff, but he says the nhs was not well set before the pandemic, with waiting lists growing steadily, so covid cancellations have made an existing problem a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass making very clear that capacity in the nhs was not sufficient already for years, and that has now become very, very obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, a very long time to get where we want to be. does it need more money, just to get through these procedures? yes, of course it will take more money, and of course we will try to do this as efficiently as possible, but you can only treat all those patients if you introduce even more weekend working, evening working, extra shifts, extra operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has now been allocated to the nhs in england, some of which will be used to help cut waiting lists. there will be proportionate increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland. marcel levi believes the nhs is a very strong organisation, itjust needs to build up capacity now to cope with the impact of the next pandemic. hugh pym, bbc news. now we don't often cover papua new guinea. but it's seeing a sharp rise in covid cases. it's an island nation in the pacific. and while it had fared well during the pandemic — in the past month alone — health authorities have recorded at least 1,a27 cases and 17 deaths. that's more than half of its total covid deaths and cases. thank you forjoining us, natalie. explain why the virus is spreading so much now. we explain why the virus is spreading so much now-— explain why the virus is spreading so much now. ~ . , , so much now. we have been sinks were ready cases- -- — so much now. we have been sinks were ready cases- -- -- _ so much now. we have been sinks were ready cases- -- -- we — so much now. we have been sinks were ready cases... -- we have _ so much now. we have been sinks were ready cases... -- we have been - ready cases... —— we have been seeing sporadic cases that met in a community transmission, that bubbling away under the surface, a young population and the average age is only 22. there's been a lot of miles and a symptomatic cases and now we have got to a point of critical mass will receive the transmission continuing to build and now reaching people with more morbidity or the elderly and we are starting to see a more serious cases. they are also doing investigations in case of a new variant has entered the country or internally but at the moment the world health organization thinks that it world health organization thinks thatitis world health organization thinks that it is finally a mess building of cases. �* , ., , that it is finally a mess building ofcases. , ., , , of cases. ask the help that is being offered by australia _ of cases. ask the help that is being offered by australia arrived? -- i offered by australia arrived? -- assed offered by australia arrived? » passed the help? we seen the first stages of the shrug and help arrived, two tents were flown in by the royalist australian air force this weekend, very big tent that will be use to triage patients at the port. we certainly need it to stop patient from effecting other people in this very busy hospital. also expecting to see a thousand doses of the active zeneca vaccine from australia arrived here next weekjust from australia arrived here next week just as from australia arrived here next weekjust as an immediate supply to allow health workers to be inoculated. that is the biggest concern for png. trying to protect is very fragile health system. we will leave it _ is very fragile health system. we will leave it there. thank you very much for bringing us up today. we have finished this addition. thank you for watching. see you soon. goodbye. for many of us, it was quite a cloudy day and that's how it's going to stay for the next few days. there was very little change on the weather front with high pressure very close to the uk. having said that, in one or two areas, the skies did clear today and it was in fact the warmest day of the year so far in scotland. temperatures got up to around 18 celsius, but that really was the exception for many of us. it was nowhere near as warm. here's the high pressure through thursday evening. it's going to stick around for the next few days, and i think it'll change the shape a little bit but essentially speaking, it means a fair amount of cloud coming in from the north or the northwest. bits and pieces of light rain and drizzle through the night from yorkshire into the east midlands, the southeast too. around six to 7 degrees, but where skies are clearer in scotland and glasgow, around three degrees first thing. a lot of cloud. damp weather in the morning, particularly across the southeast of the country, but later in the afternoon, it looks as though sunshine will develop from norwich to london, possibly portsmouth as well and want or two warmer spots in western scotland. glasgow may be getting up to around 15 celsius. the forecast as we go through saturday and the weekend, the first day of spring, astronomical spring. the high pressure is dragging in that cloud into western parts of scotland and on the whole, i think it is going to remain pretty cloudy across the board. maybe to the east of the pennines a bit of sunshine developing on saturday around some newcastle and hull. temperatures around 11 degrees or so. second half, the high pressure is still with us. this is the jet stream overlay. you can see the jet streams way to the north of us sending in any weather systems in the direction of iceland. things remained settled as far as the eye can see. temperatures around 12, 13 degrees. the weather is expected to change and of course it will change, but that is not going to happen until sometime from the middle of next week, where things will turn more u nsettled. that's it for me, bye—bye. this is bbc news. the headlines at 8pm: the eu medical regulator gives the astra—zeneca vaccine the green light — several eu countries had suspended its use while they tried to find out if there was a link to blood clots. 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. boris johnson stresses the safety of the jab and says no vaccination appointments will be cancelled here, despite problems with supplies from india. 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. the american private investigator