one to professor van tam, given the antibody data, i van tam, given the antibody data, how close — vanthreshold will we be looking - herd immunity and what sort of threshold will we be looking ati herd immunity and what sort of i threshold will we be looking at in percentage — threshold will we be looking at in percentage terms _ threshold will we be looking at in percentage terms in _ threshold will we be looking at in percentage terms in order- threshold will we be looking at in percentage terms in order to - threshold will we be looking at in. percentage terms in order to reach that? _ percentage terms in order to reach that? l— percentage terms in order to reach that? ., ,~ percentage terms in order to reach that? ., ., , ., percentage terms in order to reach that? ., ., ., that? i will ask professor van tam to answer the _ that? i will ask professor van tam to answer the second _ that? i will ask professor van tam to answer the second and - that? i will ask professor van tam to answer the second and third - to answer the second and third question— to answer the second and third qu

i'm jonathan van tam, deu from the jcvi. i'm jonathan van tam, deputy chief— from the jcvi.medicines. today's briefing is about the uk vaccine programme, and in particular, about the astrazeneca vaccine and we will explain as we go through about a change of course, a course correction, if you like, to the uk programme. now, if you had said to me back in march 2020, and predicted how far we would have come so far with our vaccine programme, then i am not sure i would have believed that we would have got as far as we have. the uk vaccine programme has been the most enormous success indeed. and if you said to me that by march 2021, we would not have needed a course correction, that also would have amazed me stop so we must keep this in the context the enormous success —— of the enormous success we have achieved so far. i'm going to stop there so far and allow professor raine to open the briefing by explaining her perspective from the mhra and where we are arriving at today. thank perspective from the mhra and where we are arriving at today.— we are arriving at today. thank you.

we heard at length today the professor van tam describing howj the professor van tam describing how thisdeveloping a blood clot and one and a million of dying commit a million of dying committed small but i think the telegraph, your paper and christopher, has done some extraordinaryjournalism and some extraordinary journalism and spoke some extraordinaryjournalism and spoke into a family of somebody who did have a clot and i think that is more powerful than any of the figures really.— more powerful than any of the figures really. yes. how soft it bill gardner, _ figures really. yes. how soft it bill gardner, one _ figures really. yes. how soft it bill gardner, one of— figures really. yes. how soft it bill gardner, one of our- figures really. yes. how soft it bill gardner, one of our bench| bill gardner, one of our bench unless i the telegraph. he has found the family was given his first dose on march 17 and died on easter sunday. —— one of our best journalist. his family, they are saying that they want people to keep taking this vaccine. it is deeply moving that the family have found tim

he saving _ invested —— jonathan van—tam. he saving hold — invested —— jonathan van—tam.it longer because we don't want to do anything _ longer because we don't want to do anything to— longer because we don't want to do anything to throw us off course. so, hopefully— anything to throw us off course. so, hopefully not too long to go. but the oint hopefully not too long to go. elf the point you're making, sam, at the other end of this is you're right, it's been tough for us but it's hardly been toughest for on the front of the i. freedom after a year indoors. so good, such aood after a year indoors. so good, such good neva- — after a year indoors. so good, such good news. people _ after a year indoors. so good, such good news. people in _ after a year indoors. so good, such good news. people in care - after a year indoors. so good, such good news. people in care homes i after a year indoors. so good, such i good news. people in care homes that from tuesday, i will be able to venture — from tuesday, i will be able to venture out of the ground, they'll be able _ venture out o

the financial times is talking, has on their front page, but we heard earlier on today, professor van tamhief medical officer, describing this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has _ this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has written _ this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has written this _ this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has written this up - this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has written this up in - this as a course correction. yeah, the ft has written this up in a - the ft has written this up in a pretty factual, straightway, just sitting out all the arguments, the big story is that the decision has been made that people under 30, up to age 29, will be given alternative to age 29, will be given alternative to the astrazeneca vaccination. interestingly, the ema have been careful distress, as everybody has been stressing, that the benefit still outweighs the risks and it is still outweighs the risks and it is still really important to get your vaccination, but what's interesting are the statistics. there have been 79 cases of these very rare blood clots, of w

we all saw what professor van—tam described on the news yesterday at three o'clock and i fully supportrief about the loss of our brother. more lives will be saved by people having the vaccine than not. that was alison astles whose brother neil died of a blood clot after having the astra zeneca vaccine. much more coming up from two o'clock. we will have more from northern ireland and talk more about vaccines generally across europe. now it's time for a look at the weather with nick miller. hello. it is feeling a little less cold out there today, especially where you have been seeing some sunshine. multiple seasons in a day, though, in scotland. a hint of spring after the past few cold days across eastern areas with some sunny spells. rain, though, in north—west scotland from this weather front which is moving southwards across scotland today with the rain. and the much colder air following on behind, the wind picking up as well, back to winter with arctic air and snow showers in northern scotland tonight. the front with the arctic air following spreading south across the uk just in time

we will be hearing from the deputy chief medical officer for england, jonathan van tam among others.fferent. what you know about this? what do a peaky blinders themed bar and a custom—built yoga studio have in common? they're both contenders to be named "shed of the year". graham satchell has been to meet the people whose humble shed is their pride and joy. we don't like to call it a shed. it's wooden—built, but it is a yoga and pilates studio, which is where i teach and work. i'd have said probably for 15 years, over and over, "i would love to have my own studio, i would love to have my own studio," and, ta—da! my husband goes, "hmm, ok." so began a mammoth lockdown project. geraint has spent most of the last year building a yoga studio for his wife, mel, in the back garden. it's been incredibly enjoyable, hugely satisfying to be able to stand in the kitchen window and look down and see something that i've created myself is just fantastic. the finished studio has underfloor heating, wi—fi, sound and vision. it's allowed mel to do her classes online. mel started doing yoga to help he

professorjonathan professor jonathan van tam professorjonathan van tam at that press conference it littleson, an immunologist at cambridge university. gentleman, think you very much for joining us. we will crack on street away, because we have an awful lot of interest in this and a lot of questions, so professor robin, i'm going to come to you first. claire is asking if you are under 30 and have had the first dose of astrazeneca, what should you do? should you have the second dose? yes, she should definitely go ahead and have the second dose, that is what is recommended at the moment, and so far we have no recorded cases of this type of blood clot with the second dose of the astrazeneca vaccine. it does not mean it completely removes the risk, but it looks so far as of the risk may be lower, if you have had a first dose and not had an adverse event. and lower, if you have had a first dose and not had an adverse event. and in keein: in and not had an adverse event. and in keeping in line _ and not had an adverse event. and in keeping in line with _ and not had an adverse event. and in keep

and also as professor van tam - risks. absolutely, absolutely.es in that, even in the depths of our shock and grief about the loss of our brother, more lives will be saved by people having the vaccine, than not.— the vaccine, than not. allison, a very important _ the vaccine, than not. allison, a very important message. - the vaccine, than not. allison, a very important message. we - very important message. we appreciate you talking to us and sincere sympathies from me and the rest of the team on the loss of neil to you and the rest of the family, thank you very much, alison astles. scientists tracking coronavirus in england say the vaccination programme is beginning to break the link between covid—i9 cases and deaths. the latest react study by imperial college london, which involved analysing more than 140,000 people's swab tests between the 11th and 30th march, found infections had fallen by roughly two—thirds since february. professor eskild petersen is chair of emerging infections task force of the european society for clinical microbiology a

van—tam and one from the em they— cernyjonathan van—tam and one from the ema.generally but in this instance. more likely to develop them - generally but in this instance. the decisions — generally but in this instance. the decisions are _ generally but in this instance. the decisions are being _ generally but in this instance. the decisions are being made - generally but in this instance. the decisions are being made for- generally but in this instance. the decisions are being made for bothj decisions are being made for both men and — decisions are being made for both men and women, _ decisions are being made for both men and women, young - decisions are being made for both men and women, young men- decisions are being made for both men and women, young men and| decisions are being made for both- men and women, young men and young wonren _ men and women, young men and young wonren it— men and women, young men and young wonren it nteens— men and women, young men and young women. it means that _ men and women, young men and young women. it means that cautionary -

it is an ongoing process and jonathan van tam _ for?? yes, we can see from real—world data that public health england has published that the vaccines offer really high levels of protection for you if you have been vaccinated with one dose, even more with the two doses. will it also reduced transmission? yes, we've seen the data from public health england that it reduces household transmission by 50%. the durability, how long does the protection last, both in terms of antibodies and t cells is more challenging. that was the question thatjonathan van tam was getting at, the way that we do this at the moment is to see how the antibodies are able to deal with the virus variants, the south african variant, for example. it's harder to see how the t cell protection also kicks in and protects you from severe infection and hospitalisation, but the scientists will continue to do that work and they will then make the decision as to when to offer the booster jab to which the decision as to when to offer the boosterjab to which groups, and see the m

so jonathan van tam they're talking about a course correction — is that how you see this move?correction - is that how you see this move? very much so. an important — how you see this move? very much so. an important point _ how you see this move? very much so. an important point made _ how you see this move? very much so. an important point made by _ how you see this move? very much so. an important point made by professorl an important point made by professor rain is that all affected medicines are recognised to have some side effects. that has to be put into context, for example, women will take the contraceptive pill out of choice to prevent pregnancy, and there is a 1% risk of a deep vein thrombosis over ten years. but if they get pregnant, there's a massively increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. so there you have a commonly used medicine people take out of choice which reduces just risk of pregnancy and reduce vein thrombosis. risk of pregnancy and reduce vein thrombosis-_ risk of pregnancy and reduce vein thrombosis. ~ ., ., ., thrombosis. when women go on the ill, th

you can watch the briefing which is being led by deputy chief medical officer for england jonathan van tamfrom him at 3pm this afternoon. you will be able to watch that briefing live on the bbc news channel. brazil has recorded more than 4,000 coronavirus deaths in 2a hours — a grim record for the country. the public health system has been overwhelmed by a surge in the number of cases since the beginning of the year — as paul paul adams reports. sobbing. 0vercrowded hospitals, a health system on the brink of collapse, and a population living in fear. covid's spotlight has ranged across the globe and now has brazil locked in its harsh glare. for the first time the country has recorded more than 4,000 covid—related deaths in just 24 hours. brazil's death toll now stands at around 337,000 — second only to the united states. still behind both the us and britain in terms of death per capita, but a contagious new variant is fuelling the latest surge — the death toll in march twice as high as the previous month. i think brazil now is not only the epicentre of the pandemic worldwide, it's a threat

professorjonathan van—tam, england's deputy chief medical officer, gave him the oxford astrazeneca injection thing. it's ao—somethings now, but the government is on track to get all adults at least one injection by the end ofjuly. all done, fantastic! please remember to come back in 12 weeks. that one. almost 44 million people have had their first dose now and over 13.5 million have had both. and the government's ordered an extra 60 million doses of the pfizer biontech vaccine, not for now, but to stock up for a possible third booster dose. to future proof the vaccination programme, our task is to make sure we give as much optionality to the scientists, to the clinicians, to make the decision whether we boost in september or later this year or early next year, but we must have that ability to do that. part of that ability will be making sure we've got enough of the right vaccines, and that seems to be going well. the government's ordered more than 500 million doses in total now, but it will also come down to logistics. this is a major commitment for the nhs, coming alongside the challenges o

said, don't _ not, jonathan van—tam famously said, don't make _ not, jonathan van—tam famously said,ra. uk has ordered 70 million doses. it has. a while ago by the mhra. uk has. ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cotd _ ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, _ ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, not _ ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, not as— ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, not as cold - ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, not as cold as - ordered 70 million doses. it has to be cold stored, not as cold as that| be cold stored, not as cold as that of isaac— be cold stored, not as cold as that of isaac vaccine. _ be cold stored, not as cold as that of isaac vaccine. the _ be cold stored, not as cold as that of isaac vaccine. the trials - be cold stored, not as cold as that of isaac vaccine. the trials are - of isaac vaccine. the trials are very— of isaac vaccine. the trials are very encouraging, _ of isaac vaccine. the trials are very encouraging, against - very encouraging, against mild—to—moderate

some of the data represented yesterday afternoon byjonathan van tam. related to the vaccine side effects ego, which is as you have heard, very rare, but more related to the risk of covid which are much higher, as you get older stop once you get below the of 30, even if you get covid your chances of getting seriously ill and dying are much less than people above that age. that's why it gets a little bit borderline, as to the individual risk—benefit balance down below the age of 30. and we felt that it would be important to be transparent with those data with the public to give them at that information and to reflect on our advice what we felt people would want to do, giving the information we had got. i5 want to do, giving the information we had got-— we had got. is the jcvi confident that, we had got. is the jcvi confident that. when _ we had got. is the jcvi confident that, when it _ we had got. is the jcvi confident that, when it comes _ we had got. is the jcvi confident that, when it comes to - we had got. is the jcvi confident that, when it comes t

england's deputy chief medical officer, professor van tam, says two jabs offer protection but urges peopleto the rules for a little longer to defeat the pandemic. glaciers are melting twice as fast as 20 years ago. that's one of the stories on the front page of the guardian. its claimed this is contributing more to sea—level rises than either it's claimed this is contributing more to sea—level rises than either the greenland or antarctic ice sheets. 0n the front page of the daily telegraph, a decade of devotion — the duke and duchess of cambridge are celebrating ten years of marriage. so, let's speak to george and olivia. let's ta ke let's take the daily mail first. we'll leave the pictures we talked about an hour ago and we'll talk about an hour ago and we'll talk about this headline after the e—mail�*s exposes. let's not be causing boris�*s agony as the story, the abuse of the english language. what do you make of the story? yeah. what do you make of the story? yeah, it's not been — what do you make of the story? yeah, it's not been a — what do you make of the story? yeah, it's not been

professor van tam said earlier in the week something about being towards the bottom of the curve areat you're meant to do, if you don't keep socially distanced and all the things we know about that things can go very badly wrong again?— wrong again? well, that's has obviously _ wrong again? well, that's has obviously happened _ wrong again? well, that's has obviously happened last - wrong again? well, that's has i obviously happened last autumn. wrong again? well, that's has - obviously happened last autumn. we were down at this level in august and then looks at what happened in september and october and we, of course, hope that isn't going to happen over the summer because of the degree of vaccinations that have taken place, so that is why it is this delicate balancing act. we know that this is still a very nasty virus in the new variant, they can variant has made it even worse and so i do respect that caution is growing steadily, of leaving these five—week gaps and really making sure. because the government have said they do not want to take any backward steps, to make sure that wh

nonetheless, paul, do you| reckon their remarks by professor jonathan van tam, the deputy chief medicalthe bottom at the moment in terms of the bottom at the moment in terms of the level of disease in the uk. i think the wasn't as big in terms of a big increase in transmission, because essentially, meeting out—of—doors is associated with a fairly low risk of transmission, the big challenge is going to be the next step which is currently scheduled for the 17th of may, and i can see no evidence that that will change of the moment, but certainly, i think that is going to be the big challenge, and how we manage that gentile that impacts the epidemic as it is. and we know that towards the end of next month. in it is. and we know that towards the end of next month.— it is. and we know that towards the end of next month. in terms of apps from that effectively _ end of next month. in terms of apps from that effectively allows - end of next month. in terms of apps from that effectively allows people | from that effectively allows people to meet indoors, again, the rule of six applies. what is it

moment, the health secretary will lead a downing street press conference alongside professorjonathan van tams "satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred." joining me is the co—leader of the green party, jonathan bartley. the prime minister very much under pressure but coming out fighting. what more do you want to know from him? fish what more do you want to know from him? : :, , what more do you want to know from him? : . , :, ., , what more do you want to know from him? i, , him? an answer to a very simple straightforward _ him? an answer to a very simple straightforward question. - him? an answer to a very simple straightforward question. it i him? an answer to a very simple straightforward question. it was | him? an answer to a very simple i straightforward question. it was put to him in multiple—choice form, a, b, c, or d. where did the money come from? who paid for the original invoice? we know this because if it was a donor, we need to know what was a donor, we need to know what was behind that gift? what was the person giving t

professorjonathan van—tam, england's deputy chief medical officer, gave him the oxford astrazeneca injection one. almost 44 million people have had their first dose now and over 13.5 million have had both. and the government's ordered an extra 60 million doses of the pfizer biontech vaccine, not for now, but to stock up for a possible third booster dose. to future proof the vaccination programme, our task is to make sure we give as much optionality to the scientists, to the clinicians, to make the decision whether we boost in september or later this year or early next year, but we must have that ability to do that. part of that ability will be making sure we've got enough of the right vaccines, and that seems to be going well. the government's ordered more than 500 million doses in total now, but it will also come down to logistics. this is a major commitment for the nhs, coming alongside the challenges of dealing with the backlog of care that has arisen during the pandemic. waiting lists are over 4 million now. and also, the nhs is dealing with rising demand across all of its services. for

but asjonathan van tam might say, you are 2—1 up, five minutes to go, don't lose concentration.t, when people are still feeling the immediate effects of the restrictions, but aren't seeing the immediate effects of coronavirus.— coronavirus. those football metaphors _ coronavirus. those football metaphors are _ coronavirus. those football metaphors are contagious! | coronavirus. those football - metaphors are contagious! robert, thank you very much indeed. live music, large crowds and no masks or social distancing. it might sound like a dim and distant memory but that's what lies in store for thousands of people in liverpool this weekend. the city is hosting pilot events for the re—opening of the entertainment industry, but if you haven't had a negative covid test, you're not getting in. danjohnson has been finding out. the show is back on the road and rolling into town for a big weekend that has been a long time coming. 3,000 people congregating together in one place. hopefully, all relaxed and a few drinks in them and they will be cool and looking forward to the excitement of t

his mask on, naturally and that is being administered by the deputy chief medical officer, jonathan van tam his first vaccination. now it's time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. the next few days the forecast is one of sunshine and showers, chilly by day and chilly by night. today we've got that mixture of sunshine and showers, many of us, of course, will miss the showers. they could be wintry across the tops of the mountains in scotland and it's going to be a brighter day across southern england and wales than it was yesterday. these white circles represent the average wind speeds so it's not a particular windy day, but the direction is important and once again along this north sea coastline it will feel cool in the north—easterly wind. top temperature's likely to be between 11 and may be 13 degrees. through this evening and overnight, many of the showers will fade, but not all of them and under clear skies it's going to be cold enough once again for a widespread frost. these temperatures that you can see here represent towns and cities. so over the next few days

conference today led by health secretary matt hancock where he'll be joined by professorjonathan van—tamn fatally stabbed jack merritt and saskia jones at a prison education programme event. lets get more on this from our correspondent zoe conway who's following the inquest in central london. what has been happening? we have heard evidence _ what has been happening? we have heard evidence from _ what has been happening? we have heard evidence from usman - what has been happening? we have heard evidence from usman khan'sl heard evidence from usman khan's elder brother, seven years older than him, but we can't name him for legal reasons, and he began his evidence by offering his condolences to the families ofjack evidence by offering his condolences to the families of jack merritt evidence by offering his condolences to the families ofjack merritt and saskia jones. he said the family were very sorry for what had happened. he was asked about usman khan's teenage years when he first became involved in extremism and he said he didn't know what his brother was getting up to. he said he kept hi

so avenues evidence changes, you change your position — and just as professorjonathan van tam mentionedthings should work. but prematurely pausing or completely suspending the vaccine reduces the availability of a vaccine that has greater benefits thanit a vaccine that has greater benefits than it has harms. but a vaccine that has greater benefits than it has harms.— a vaccine that has greater benefits than it has harms. but when we last soke, than it has harms. but when we last spoke. you — than it has harms. but when we last spoke. you are _ than it has harms. but when we last spoke, you are saying _ than it has harms. but when we last spoke, you are saying there's - than it has harms. but when we last spoke, you are saying there's no - spoke, you are saying there's no direct evidence between this jab and these blood clots. but now you're telling us that the evidence has changed, that there now is a connection that you accept? so when this safety signal _ connection that you accept? so when this safety signal - _ connection that you accept? so when this safety signal - you _ connectio

administered at london's science museum vaccine centre by england's deputy chief medical 0fficerjonathan van tamou got your vaccine card? and this is the astrazeneca? yes, first dose. there we are. do you feel 0k? absolutely fine. all done. fantastic. you need to remember to come back in 12 weeks. 12 weeks' time. i've got it booked in already. it didn't hurt a bit. barely a scratch. good. thank you. the uk health minister matt hancock getting his first covid vaccine, astrazeneca. the headlines on bbc news: president biden has outlined a programme to transform the us economy and society after the pandemic, worth almost $4 trillion. the uk government is facing calls to make its new adviser on ministers' conduct fully independent — with labour accusing it of marking its own homework. the jailed kremlin critic alexei navalny has appeared in court — via video link — it's the first time he's been seen in public since ending his hunger strike. the jailed putin critic alexei navalny has appeared in public for the first time after ending a more than three—week hunger strike. he appeared via video link du

england's deputy chief medical officer, professorjonathan van—tam, has suggested the uk is at or closeter shots again for over a year now. and we backed some of the only clinical trials in the world looking specifically at booster shots. i'm delighted to be able to tell you that we have secured a further 60 million doses of the pfizer vaccine that will be used alongside others as part of our booster shot programme later this year. and that is all about protecting the progress that we have made. we have a clear route out of this crisis, but this is no time for complacency. it is a time for caution. so we can keep the virus under control while we take the steps safely back to normal life. so please remember that the basics of hands, face, space and fresh air, and crucially, if like me you get the call, join me and get the jab. we've covered a lot this hour from president biden to congress in this multitrillion dollar plans for the us economy. the covid—19 crisis fortunately we are joined by a member of congress. she can touch on all of these issues. lets talk to democratic congressman, r