this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the oxford astrazeneca vaccine offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the south african variant of covid—19. but scientists say it will still help to beat the pandemic. we may not be reducing the total number of cases, but there is still protection in that case against deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease. the uk government has no plans to introduce "vaccine passports", according to the vaccines minister, who says the focus should remain on the inoculation programme itself. of course you have the evidence that you have been vaccinated, held by your gp, and if other countries will

require you to show proof of that evidence then that is obviously up to those countries. tens of thousands of anti—coup protestors gather for a second day in myanmar demanding the release of leader aung sann suu kyi. the collapse of a himalayan glacier causes flash flooding in northern india — over a hundred people are missing, feared dead. doctors in england are to be paid an additional £10 for each house—bound patient they vaccinate against coronavirus. heavy snow could bring significant disruption to the south east of england in the coming hours with weather warnings issued by the met office for large parts of britain. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world.

astrazeneca, which makes the oxford coronavirus vaccine, says a small study suggests it offers only limited protection against mild disease caused by a covid variant that emerged in south africa. the company said it had yet to establish how effective the jab is in preventing severe disease caused by the strain. tim allman reports. day after day, jab afterjab. the battle between virus and vaccine is waged. more and more people are getting their first dose, but covid—19 doesn't stand still. the financial times is reporting a study showing the oxford astrazeneca vaccine may not offer protection from all forms of the virus. a spokesperson for the drug company said...

this was a relatively small test group and according to the financial times the data has not yet been peer—reviewed, but astrazeneca seems confident its jab will offer protection against more severe forms of the virus as it creates neutralising antibodies. i do think the coronavirus is here with us to stay, unfortunately, but on the optimistic side it has been wonderful to see that these vaccines do seem to prevent hospitalisations, which is the thing that we are most concerned about. astrazeneca, along with other drug companies, is looking at ways to adapt its vaccine and a new version, if needed, could be ready for delivery by the autumn. as the virus evolves, science reacts. tim allman, bbc news. professor sarah gilbert leads

the team at oxford university that produced the astrazeneca vaccine. she says they will still provide protection against the threat of serious illness cause by coronavirus. what we are seeing from other vaccine developers is that they have a reduction in efficacy against some of the variant viruses and what that is looking like is that we may not be reducing the total number of cases, but there is still protection in that case against deaths, hospitalisations and severe disease, so that pushes us more back to the first scenario with the pyramid of cases that i was talking about. maybe we won't be reducing the number of cases as much, but we still won't be seeing the death, the hospitalisations and severe disease and that is really important for health care systems. even if we are having mild and asymptomatic infections, to prevent people from going to hospital with covid would have a major effect. the new version of the vaccine will generate antibodies that recognise the new variant and then

it will be very much like working on flu vaccines, so people will be familiar with the idea that we have to have new components, new strains in the flu vaccine every year to keep up with the main flu strains that are circulating and there are regulatory procedures that are well established for that, it is called a strain change, and vaccine developers know how to go through that process, so we will be following that process again in future for the coronavirus vaccines. with me is our political correspondent, ben wright. we have been hearing today from the vaccines minister on behalf of the government talking about the idea of booster vaccines. yes. government talking about the idea of booster vaccines.— booster vaccines. yes, following on from professor _ booster vaccines. yes, following on from professor gilbert, _ booster vaccines. yes, following on from professor gilbert, who - booster vaccines. yes, following on from professor gilbert, who i- from professor gilbert, who i thought this morning it sounded reassuring really about the work they are doing behind the scenes, trying to figure out how to tackle new variants as they pop up and she said they are doing lots of work already on the south african variant and she expects that to be incorporated into the jabs being given out as early as the autumn, she said the same about the brazil

variant, so in terms of how work is progressing on trying to get ahead, she sounded reassuring and that was echoed by the vaccines minister who talked again about us having to get used to this being an annualjab which is refined perhaps by a booster every autumn as the virus develops. booster every autumn as the virus develo s. �* ., ., ., booster every autumn as the virus develos. �* ., ., ., ., ~ develops. and a lot of talk as eo - le develops. and a lot of talk as peeple turn _ develops. and a lot of talk as people turn their _ develops. and a lot of talk as people turn their attention i develops. and a lot of talk as people turn their attention to whether or not they can go on a summer holiday about fast macro vaccine passports, this quite controversial idea. we had a bit from the vaccines minister on that. yes, it was talked as a way of reopening tourism, people who have that stamp their passports being able to get on a plane and visit other countries. it has been speculated here about for a few weeks, what will be government to do? will they go behind this idea? ed miliband, from the labourfront bench, said labour was open—minded to the idea, but nadeem zahawi scotty idea that this could happen

any time soon. —— squashed the idea. there are several reasons why we are not doing it. one, vaccines are not mandated in this country, as borisjohnson quite rightly reminded parliament. that is not how we do things in the uk, we do them by consent. we yet don't know what the impact of vaccines on transmission is and it would be discriminatory. of course you have the evidence that you have been vaccinated, held by your gp, and if other countries require you to show proof of that evidence, then that is obviously up to those countries, but we have vaccinated or given the first dose to 11 and a half million people and we have no plan of introducing a vaccine passport. that is the vaccines minister and as the vaccine roll—out becomes more and more successful and the numbers go and more successful and the numbers 9° up and more successful and the numbers go up and up and up, people will be asking how quickly can restrictions be eased. , ., ., ., ., ., , be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not aaivin be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not giving much — be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not giving much away. _ be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not giving much away. we _ be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not giving much away. we know - be eased. yes, and nadeem zahawi was not giving much away. we know the - not giving much away. we know the broad timeline for the next few weeks, the comet will be looking at all the evidence around hospitalisations, mortality rate,

transmit ability of the virus over the next week or so. —— the government will be looking at. there will on the 22nd of february b a look at the road map. mr zahawi was not giving much away, as it were labour today, urging the government not to rush the release of lockdown. workplace covid testing is being made more widely available in england, for staff who cannot work from home during lockdown. the government says firms with more than 50 employees can now access the rapid—result testing. previously only firms with more than 250 staff qualified. tens of thousands of people in myanmar have demonstrated for a second day against the recent military coup and in support of the ousted leader, aung san suu kyi.

in the main city of yangon, protesters chanted slogans against military dictatorship. in the south, on the border with thailand, there are reports that shots were fired as police broke up an anti—coup protest. from bangkok, our correspondent jonathan head reports. once more they poured in along the main road from the north of yangon. more younger people this time, wearing the red colour of the national league for democracy, the party whose government was overthrown by the coup. others carrying pictures of aung san suu kyi, the woman who for so many years symbolised resistance to military rule and who is once again under military detention. the crowd slowed down the sunday traffic, but drivers used their horns to show their support. some also showing the nld flag. three fingers, the new symbol of popular defiance borrowed

from neighbouring thailand and from the hunger games. many of them are students, mindful of the role played by previous generations of students in protesting against the military, but hopeful that many more burmese willjoin this movement. translation: this is really unfair. despite the landslide win in the election, the military staged a coup with false accusations. we thank the people for coming out on the streets. we have to fight together with respect for all. most internet services have been blocked in myanmar, but they are still finding ways to get these images out. and to show that the coup will not go unopposed. myanmar is a very different country from when people last came out to protest like this. this generation has experienced ten years of relative freedom, which they are not ready to give up.

but on everyone's minds is one question. will the military resort to the terrible violence and repression of the past to enforce its will? underneath this show of courage there are good reasons to fear. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. joining us from yangon are brothers, aged 19 and 27 years old, who have spent the day protesting in the city. we are not going to give their names for their own safety, but thank you very much indeed for being with us. can you just say to us why you have been protesting and what you have been protesting and what you have been out on the street demonstrating? been out on the street demonstratin: ? �* .., , ., been out on the street demonstratina? �* , ., ., demonstrating? because we want our democracy back- _ demonstrating? because we want our democracy back. it _ demonstrating? because we want our democracy back. it was _ demonstrating? because we want our democracy back. it was unlawfully - democracy back. it was unlawfully taken by our military. we want our liberty back, because it is really

unacceptable that they took down our elected government. [30 unacceptable that they took down our elected government.— unacceptable that they took down our elected government. do you think you cannot win? — elected government. do you think you cannot win? do _ elected government. do you think you cannot win? do you _ elected government. do you think you cannot win? do you think _ elected government. do you think you cannot win? do you think that - elected government. do you think you cannot win? do you think that coming | cannot win? do you think that coming out on the street day after day will bring democracy back to myanmar? we bring democracy back to myanmar? - only can win. we need to raise our voice so that everyone and everyone around the world can hear our voices. i really believe that they took our democracy. pare voices. i really believe that they took our democracy.— voices. i really believe that they took our democracy. are you scared? are ou took our democracy. are you scared? are you frightened _ took our democracy. are you scared? are you frightened when _ took our democracy. are you scared? are you frightened when you - took our democracy. are you scared? are you frightened when you go - took our democracy. are you scared? are you frightened when you go on i are you frightened when you go on the streets to protest? we know that the streets to protest? we know that the military in your country in the past have been pretty brutal. are you frightened?—

past have been pretty brutal. are you frightened? yes, we are afraid. there are so _ you frightened? yes, we are afraid. there are so many _ you frightened? yes, we are afraid. there are so many rumours, - you frightened? yes, we are afraid. i there are so many rumours, shooting, or if they— there are so many rumours, shooting, or if they would detain everyone who has been _ or if they would detain everyone who has been in — or if they would detain everyone who has been in the protest, and we are afraid _ has been in the protest, and we are afraid but — has been in the protest, and we are afraid. but yet we need our democracy, because our country, the democracy— democracy, because our country, the democracy has been hijacked. we need to take _ democracy has been hijacked. we need to take back_ democracy has been hijacked. we need to take back our democracy. that is why we _ to take back our democracy. that is why we get— to take back our democracy. that is why we get out and we protest. do ou why we get out and we protest. you think why we get out and we protest. drr you think the military will use force? do you think they will crack down on you?— down on you? that is what we are really scared _ down on you? that is what we are really scared of _ down on you? that is what we are really scared of because - down on you? that is what we are really scared of because there - down on you? that is what we are really scared of because there are institutions which might provoke the crowd in a violent way or perhaps they will lead in riot. people are

peaceful protesters, we are never in a violent way. bud peaceful protesters, we are never in a violent way-— peaceful protesters, we are never in a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do ou a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you sunport _ a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you sunport her? _ a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you support her? do _ a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you support her? do you - a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you support her? do you want - a violent way. and aung san suu kyi, do you support her? do you want her| do you support her? do you want her released from detention? yes. do you support her? do you want her released from detention?— released from detention? yes, we fully sunport _ released from detention? yes, we fully sunport her- _ released from detention? yes, we fully support her. she _ released from detention? yes, we fully support her. she is _ released from detention? yes, we fully support her. she is our - released from detention? yes, we fully support her. she is our only | fully support her. she is our only hope for our democracy. you know, we have no hope if she died or something happened to her. what is our future without her? she is our true leader and we really need her back. . ~ true leader and we really need her back. ., ,, , ., true leader and we really need her back. ., ,, i. . true leader and we really need her back. ., ,, . ., ,, back. thank you so much for speaking to us from yangon _ back. thank you so much for speaking to us from yangon in _ back. thank you so much for speaking to us from yangon in myanmar, - back. thank you so much for speaking to us from yangon in myanmar, very i to us from yangon in myanmar, very brave of you to come and talk to the bbc live from there, thank you very much for your time.— bbc live from there, thank you very much for your time. thank you, good evenina. at least three people have died and 150 are missing

after a crumbling glacier caused flash flooding in northern india. the floods washed away part of a dam in the uttarakhand region of the himalayas. most of those missing are believed to be construction workers. disaster relief forces have been sent to the area. our south asia editor anbarasan ethirajan has sent this update. the officials are saying that this himalayan glacier that broke away, washed away parts of this dam. there have been a couple of construction projects going in that particular area of uttarakhand state, and basically for hydropower projects, and many of those are missing or believed to be working in these power projects and, as a we speak, hundreds of emergency services personnel have been deployed to the area, and so far they say they have recovered three bodies and dozens are still missing. and the government has already asked the army to be on standby and more people are being rushed to the area. but there is a fear that people will maybe going along the riverside, along the banks of the alaknanda river,

could be missing because many people take their cattle for grazing and they also go around collecting firewood. these people could be missing and this particular area is very, very ecologically sensitive and the government says that it is doing all it can to rescue as many people as possible. but it does look like the death toll could rise significantly? yes. one of the tunnels, according to officials, is completely blocked and dozens of the workers are still trapped inside, they are trying to reach out to these people, but they are not very hopeful because it is completely submerged in mud. this particular area also witnessed another flooding in 2013, when thousands of people were killed and environmentalists have been warning for a long time against building roads and dams against in these rivers.

these are tributaries that finally go and join the mighty river ganges, and for the last four or five years people have been warning. there have been court about building a road in this particular sensitive areas, very close to the himalayan mountains and also building dams. but now the officials will have to think twice because part of this dam has been washed away. they need to revisit this whole project again. i , south asia editor talking to me a little earlier. the headlines on bbc news: the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the south african variant of covid—i9. but scientists say it will still help to beat the pandemic. the uk government has no plans to introduce �*vaccine passports�* — according to the vaccines minister — who says the focus should remain on the inoculation programme itself. tens of thousands of anti—coup protestors gather for a second day in myanmar demanding the release of leader aung sann suu kyi.

doctors in england are to be paid an extra £10 by the nhs for every person who's housebound that they vaccinate. it's part of the uk government's drive to protect everyone aged 70 and over, together with front line health workers, by february the 15th. meanwhile, 18 new mass vaccine centres open tomorrow. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. gp george hobbs is headed out to give around 20 of his patients covid jabs at home. they're too ill or vulnerable to come in a for a vaccination. first up is diana garfield... right, 0k. ..who has heart problems and is also losing her sight. there still is a hope in the back of my mind, however old i am, i still have that hope that... ..something will work out. right, cheerio, bye—bye! it's great because i have been a gp

for over 27 years and they know me, so i think when they see someone familiar coming it makes a difference to the experience. but quite a lot of them are quite nervous and then when they see someone they know, that is very reassuring. hello, i am calling - from ashtree surgery. ashtree surgery in carnforth in lancashire is on course to vaccinate its most vulnerable patients by the middle of this month, but that is not the case everywhere. so gps will receive an additional £10 on top of the standard fee for every housebound person they vaccinate. yes, this will be helpful. it does take significantly longer to go out and visit someone and to take the necessary time and precautions in each and every visit, that takes people away from a vaccination centre, where they can do more vaccinations in a similar amount of time. so we do need to recognise that and it is good that nhs england have done that and have provided this additional small amount of funding to enable practices to provide vaccinations to this particularly vulnerable group of people as quickly as possible.

the latest data shows that more than 11.4 million people have received their first dose. that is a rise ofjust over 494,000 on the previous 24—hour reporting period. at this rate of vaccination, the nhs would need to give jabs to an average ofjust under 393,000 people per day in order to meet the government's target of 15 million 1st doses by the 15th of february. and the scottish government has said that it has met its target to vaccinate the over 80s by the 5th of february. there are to be 18 more vaccination sites opening from next week, like the one at blackburn cathedral. the new sites mean the jabs are now available from more than 100 large—scale centres, 1000 local gp services, almost 200 pharmacies and over 250 hospitals. pallab ghosh, bbc news.

let's get more now from richard vautrey, we saw him briefly in that report, he's the chair of the british medical association's gp committee in england. do you think this £10 per gp for doing a household inoculation, is that a good idea in the sense that it will provide an added incentive, if you like, for gps to go out and about and give the vaccination? yes. about and give the vaccination? yes, i think it is about and give the vaccination? yes, i think it is a — about and give the vaccination? yes, i think it is a welcome _ about and give the vaccination? ya: i think it is a welcome initiative. it recognises the additional cost in enabling people to do this type of work, many practices are already engaged in this and we wanted to ensure that all the vulnerable patients, housebound patients, get vaccinated as quickly as possible and this will contribute and support that. we and this will contribute and support that. ~ ., . ., and this will contribute and support that. ~ ., ., ., that. we have come a long way, haven't we? _ that. we have come a long way, haven't we? when _ that. we have come a long way, haven't we? when we _ that. we have come a long way, haven't we? when we first - that. we have come a long way, | haven't we? when we first heard about the fighter vaccine and it had to be scored at —70 and it was difficult logistically, but now we have gps going round and knocking on people's doors and giving the vaccines to people stuck at home. yes, this is gps, pharmacists,

paramedics, a whole range of people supporting our work, delivering vaccines to people in households. it is obviously challenging, but the vaccines we have now, the astrazeneca vaccine, enables us to do that in a way that defies pfizer vaccine wasn't. we have taken five that vaccines into care homes and that vaccines into care homes and that enabled us to vaccinate care home residents as well so we wanted to get the most vulnerable in our community as quickly as we could. how worried are you about today's news about the limited efficacy of the vaccine against the south african variant, it seems, at least in terms of providing... what are your thoughts on that? it is something _ your thoughts on that? it is something we _ your thoughts on that? it is something we see - your thoughts on that? it is something we see in - your thoughts on that? it 3 something we see in the changes of the flue virus and that is why we have that every year and i'm sure that will be the case with covid—19 as well. it is likely to change, it is going to be with us for the years to come and say we need a regular

beast are in place to enable people to keep up their level of immunity which is really important to focus at the moment on the virus prevalent in our community and get the vaccine out as quickly as possible. —— a regular booster. we now have technology to enable us to change the vaccines. astrazeneca and others are certainly looking at that at the moment. b. are certainly looking at that at the moment. �* ., ., ., ~' are certainly looking at that at the moment. �* ., ., ., ,, ., ., moment. a lot of talk at the moment about vaccine — moment. a lot of talk at the moment about vaccine passports _ moment. a lot of talk at the moment about vaccine passports as _ moment. a lot of talk at the moment about vaccine passports as people . about vaccine passports as people turn attention to the possibility of travelling abroad over the summer. the vaccines minister has been saying actually the government will not bring in vaccine passports, but people will be saying to their gps, can you make sure i have a certificate proving i have had this vaccine so that they can go to some countries later in the year? yes. countries later in the year? yes, every vaccine — countries later in the year? yes, every vaccine and _ countries later in the year? 1a: every vaccine and immunisation that a patient has had throughout their life is done through the nhs —— that is done through the nhs is recorded

in their records, travel vaccines, for vaccines, in their records, travel vaccines, forvaccines, or in their records, travel vaccines, for vaccines, or indeed now covid—19 vaccines, it is recorded within their own gp record. what would like is an easier way to get access to that record, because we often have requests from patients to get access to what's record of vaccines they have had, but what we do not want to do is provide large numbers of letters to our patients with this information, we want a simple and easy way for patients to get access to their vaccine history, for whatever reason they need it for, so they can show it to whoever needs it. ., ~ , ., , . heavy snow could bring significant disruption to the east and south east of england in the next few hours. an amberwarning, meaning possible travel disruption and power cuts, is in force until monday morning. snow has already fallen elsewhere across the uk, and with the bitterly cold temperatures, people

are being urged to check in on the elderly and vulnerable. 0ur correspondent simonjones has the latest for usjust 0ur correspondent simonjones has the latest for us just outside dover. it is absolutely freezing. the snow has been coming down for several hours now. it has been blanketing the roads and pavements. it is pretty treacherous underfoot. it is turning pretty icy, but it is creating some lovely scenes here too. we have an amber weather warning in place in kent and large parts of the east of england. that is in place for all of today into tomorrow. in parts we could see up to 30 centimetres of snow and the whole of the east of the uk has a weather warning in place for snow and ice from today into wednesday, so this is going to last quite a period of time. it is notjust the snow, we also have storm darcy blowing through, bringing winds of up to 50 mph. and although on the thermometer it says it is around freezing, when you add in the wind chill, it is actually feeling more like —7.

now the advice is do not go out unless you have too, really coinciding with the government's advice to stay at home because of coronavirus, but i think the reality is when people see a bit of snow, a lot of them will want to come out and enjoy it. a very chilly simonjones reporting that from kent. you are watching bbc news. as the lockdown continues and new covid variants emerge, the government is constantly looking at what restrictions are needed to bring the virus under control. one thing that's so far been ruled out is axing the bubble system, because, for many, bubbles have represented a lifeline during the pandemic. hope bolger has been taking a look at how they've helped. it's been a lifeline. i don't know how people are doing without it. the difference it has made to our quality of life and to her quality of life is huge. it has actually saved my life. coronavirus has caused many of us to feel isolated at times.

during the first lockdown some people spent weeks without any real human contact. alex was one of them. the most meaningful conversation i had was with the lady in the co—op over the road about eggs. it was incredibly isolating, it got really, really lonely. when support bubbles were brought in lastjune, they offered people in similar situations a vital chance to reconnect. it has actually saved my life. had the situation of being on my own, being away from people, gone on for much longer, i don't know what state i would have ended up in. honestly, i owe my friends who said "come over" a world of gratitude. because without them, we might not be having the conversation. the rules across the uk differ slightly. in england, wales and scotland, you can form a support bubble if you are the only adult in the house. separately, england has childcare bubbles for families with kids under 14.

scotland lets couples who live apart bubble, even if there are other people in their households and in northern ireland two households of any size can form a household bubble. it's even really difficult thinking back to it, just how much of a struggle it was. with a tantruming really needy two—year—old it was so, so, so difficult. nessa runs a new business and is a university lecturer, all while looking after her toddler, jacob. she gets help from her mum, pam. it's been a lifeline, i don't know how people are doing without it. my business definitely wouldn't have been able to survive because we are a new business, i do need to go on to site quite often. at a time when schools are closed, shops are shut and pubs are empty some have raised concerns that bubbles contribute to the spread of the virus, but would ditching them lead to more problems? in the last few weeks the government has dismissed rumours it might suspend bubbles.

the bubbles that we have in place, the childcare bubbles, the support bubbles, are very important and we are going to keep them. experts say it's a case of weighing up the risks. so it's really important that you form the bubble with the right people to optimise your mental health and at the same time to reduce your chance of contracting the virus. what would you do if we couldn't come round and make _ yourdinnerforyou? starve. 93—year—old margaret worked in the land army during the second world war. this support bubble has really allowed us to actually keep her independent in her home because the reality is if it didn't exist she'd have to go into a home or she'd have to move in with us, which she vehemently does not want to do. as with everything during this pandemic, it's about finding the right balance, but for those in bubbles their importance cannot be overstated.

we have already seen all that snow. now it's time for a look at the weather. we have a cold week ahead, particularly biting today, thanks to easterly winds, and we will also have those tomorrow. the threat for some today of heavy, disruptive snowfall. the met office have marked out an area across parts of east anglia and the south—east that could be at risk of up to 20 centimetres of snow falling. this is the tail end of storm darcy, bringing with it strong winds, so blizzard and drifting, an additional hazard. to the north, with a keen easterly wind, quite a few showers across northern england and into scotland as well. some areas will avoid them and see some decent sunshine, but even in the sunshine it will feel particularly raw. these are the temperatures you would read on the thermometer, but we have to factor in the chilling effect of that easterly wind and actually step outside and for many it will feel closer to somewhere between —3 and —5. the easterly wind particularly strong as we head into monday as well, and those shower streaming further westwards.