New bookings for Covid-19 vaccinations have been closed for the month of April after the NHS warned of a “significant reduction” in vaccine supplies.
A letter sent to regional health bosses from NHS England said that the government’s Vaccine Task Force warned them of a possible shortage from 29 March due to “national inbound vaccine supply”.
This has sparked fears that lockdown easing could be delayed. Microbiologist Dr Simon Clarke said that the “ripple effects” could last for “months”.
But the government has played down the significance of the shortage, with health secretary Matt Hancock insisting that the UK’s vaccine targets remain “on track”.
Meanwhile, India is facing a spike in Covid-19 cases, with numbers doubling in Maharashtra – the state which contains Mumbai – over the last fortnight.
Welcome to The Independent’s Covid-19 blog, where we’ll be bringing you up-to-the-minute updates on case numbers, lockdown news and vaccine supplies in the UK and abroad. Follow along live.
Welcome to The Independent’s Covid-19 blog, where we’ll be bringing you up-to-the-minute updates on case numbers, lockdown news and vaccine supplies in the UK and abroad. Follow along live.
Joanna Taylor18 March 2021 08:21
