British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts after receiving a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, amid the coronavirus illness pandemi
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts after receiving a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, amid the coronavirus illness pandemic, in London, Britain March 19, 2021.
Frank Augstein | Pool | Reuters
LONDON — U.Ok. Prime Minister Boris Johnson acquired his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the College of Oxford on Friday, his workplace mentioned in an announcement, a part of a push to reassure the general public that the vaccine is protected and efficient.
Johnson, 56, has urged different folks to get inoculated in opposition to Covid-19, citing knowledge from the U.Ok.’s impartial drug regulator that exhibits the advantages far outweigh the dangers.
A flurry of nations world wide suspended using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precaution following reviews of blood clots in some vaccinated folks. Well being consultants sharply criticized the transfer, citing a scarcity of information, whereas analysts expressed concern concerning the influence on vaccine uptake because the virus continues to unfold.
U.Ok. and EU regulators have mentioned there was no proof the vaccine had brought about blood clots. The World Well being Group additionally mentioned the advantages of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the dangers and has beneficial that vaccinations proceed.
Talking at a Downing Avenue convention on Thursday, Johnson mentioned the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was protected, however “the factor that is not protected is catching Covid, which is why it’s so necessary that all of us get our jabs as quickly as our flip comes.”
The U.Ok. chief was himself handled in hospital for Covid in April and spent days in an intensive care unit.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex can also be anticipated to obtain the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday.
Vaccine provides
Germany, France, Italy and Spain are amongst European nations that say they are going to resume utilizing the vaccine after Europe’s drug regulator declared it protected and efficient. Indonesia, which had beforehand delayed administering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, mentioned Friday it has accredited its use.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark, nonetheless, have mentioned they are going to proceed to halt their use of the vaccine whereas they conduct their very own impartial evaluations.
The U.Ok., which didn’t pause its rollout of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, mentioned delays to its vaccine provide subsequent month wouldn’t influence England’s highway map out of lockdown.
A well being employee holds a field of the AstraZeneneca vaccine on the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Illnesses Institute in Nonthaburi province on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Chaiwat Subprasom | SOPA Pictures | LightRocket by way of Getty Pictures
The Nationwide Well being Service has warned a couple of “important discount” within the weekly provide of Covid vaccines in England subsequent month, after fewer doses than initially anticipated arrived from India.
Johnson mentioned there was “no change” to the federal government’s plan to ease restrictive public well being measures, insisting the highway map was “on observe” regardless of an surprising drop in provide.
Up to now, greater than 4.2 million folks have contracted Covid within the U.Ok., with 126,163 deaths, in keeping with knowledge compiled by Johns Hopkins College.