26th Mar 2021 18:17
(Alliance News) - The UK government has absolute confidence in UK vaccine supplies, with all adults on track to receive a first dose by the end of July, a minister has said.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the UK's vaccine programme will continue to be "world-leading", despite a row with Europe over vaccine exports.
It comes as new figures from the Office for National Statistics estimate around one in 340 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to March 20 – unchanged on the previous week, suggesting a levelling off.
The picture remains broadly similar in Wales and Northern Ireland, with a slight rise in infections in Scotland.
Prof James Naismith, from the University of Oxford, said: "Today's ONS data are less reassuring than last week; they serve as a caution but not yet evidence we need to change course."
EU leaders stopped short on Thursday evening during a European Council meeting of banning exports of vaccines, as a disagreement with the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca continues.
While giving a backing in principle for toughened export controls, a statement following the summit stressed the importance of global supply chains in producing jabs.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said AstraZeneca PLC must "catch up" on deliveries to the EU before exporting doses elsewhere, with her views receiving support from Italy, Spain and France.
But Belgium and the Netherlands are among those resisting the use of export controls.
On Friday, asked about the progress of negotiations with the UK on sharing coronavirus vaccines, European Commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer told a briefing: "All I can tell you is that discussions with the UK are ongoing.
"We don't have any comments to make at the moment on the gist and content of those discussions.
"Our common aim is to ensure we have good co-operation in terms of supply chains and producing the vaccine."
By Jane Kirby and Patrick Daly
source: PA
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