Britain’s Boris Johnson to receive first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, urges others to do the same

LONDON — U.Ok. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday is predicted to receive the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, looking for to reassure the public that the vaccine is each secure and efficient.

Johnson, 56, has urged different folks to get inoculated in opposition to Covid-19, citing knowledge from the U.Ok.’s unbiased drug regulator that exhibits the advantages far outweigh the dangers.

A flurry of nations round the world had suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a precautionary measure following stories of blood clots in some vaccinated folks. Health specialists sharply criticized the transfer, citing a scarcity of knowledge, whereas analysts expressed concern about the affect on vaccine uptake as the virus continues to unfold.

U.Ok. and EU regulators have mentioned there was no proof the Covid vaccine had precipitated blood clots. The World Health Organization additionally mentioned the advantages of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the dangers and had really helpful that vaccinations proceed.

Speaking at a Downing Street convention on Thursday, Johnson mentioned the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was secure, however “the thing that isn’t safe is catching Covid, which is why it is so important that we all get our jabs as soon as our turn comes.”

The U.Ok. chief was himself handled in hospital for Covid-19 in April final yr and spent days in an intensive care unit.

French Prime Minister Jean Castex can also be anticipated to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday.

Germany, France, Italy and Spain are amongst some of these in Europe that say they are going to resume utilizing the vaccine after Europe’s drug regulator declared it secure and efficient. Indonesia, which had beforehand delayed administering the shot, mentioned on Friday it had permitted the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Norway, Sweden and Denmark, nevertheless, have mentioned they are going to proceed to halt their use of the vaccine whereas they conduct their very own unbiased 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 affect England’s roadmap out of lockdown.

The National Health Service had warned a few “significant reduction” in the weekly provide of Covid vaccines in England subsequent month, after fewer doses than initially anticipated had arrived from India.

Johnson mentioned there was “no change” to the authorities’s plan to ease restrictive public well being measures, insisting the roadmap was “on track” regardless of an sudden drop in vaccine provide.

To date, greater than 4.2 million folks have contracted Covid in the U.Ok., with 126,163 deaths, in accordance to knowledge compiled by Johns Hopkins University.