The UK government is facing questions over coronavirus vaccine supply after warnings of a significant reduction.
It is understood a delivery of millions of doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been held up by four weeks.
The NHS warned of a reduction in supply in England in April in a letter to local health organisations. The Department of Health insists it is still on track to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK was “ahead of schedule” to offer a first dose to all people aged over 50 by 15 April, at a briefing at Downing Street on Wednesday.
More than 25 million people in the UK have had a first dose of a Covid vaccine, while around 1.7 million have had a second jab. After opening up appointments to all over 50s on Wednesday, the NHS in England was then told not to offer jabs to younger age groups throughout April.
Earlier this month, it agreed to supply 10 million doses for the UK, but only half of these will arrive this month with the rest delayed for several weeks.
