Vaccine shortage means first doses for under 50s will be delayed until May

A shortage in the supply of the Covid-19 vaccine means no first doses will be given to the under 50s in April.

It has been reported that a shipment of five million Oxford-AstraZeneca doses, produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been delayed for four weeks. The delay is understood to not affect the Pfizer/BioNRech vaccine, which the Guardian says makes up 25% of vaccines administered in the UK.

Steve Rumbelow, Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, has confirmed that the delay means first doses will not be offered to borough residents under 50 throughout April.

Only people aged 50 or over, those who are clinically vulnerable, and those awaiting their second dose, will be able to get a vaccination at present.

In his weekly update to councillors Mr Rumbelow said: “We will be able to continue to vaccinate everyone over 50 and complete second doses but will not be able to offer first doses to people under 50 throughout April.

“We will, though, continue to target areas where take-up has been lower.”

Speaking at the latest coronavirus press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “In the short term we are receiving fewer vaccines than we had planned for a week ago.

“That is because of a delay in a shipment from the Serum Institute who are doing a herculean job in producing vaccines in such large quantities – and because of a batch that we currently have in the UK that needs to be retested – as part of our rigorous safety programmes.

“So as a result we will receive slightly fewer vaccines in April than in March.

“But that is still more than we received in February, and the supply we do have will still enable us to hit the targets we have set.

“By 15 April we will be able to offer a first dose to all of you who are over 50, as well as those under 50 who are clinically vulnerable.”

A further pop-up clinic is being held in Rochdale next week; this time at the Kashmiri Youth Project on Belfield Road (Apna Ghar/Unity House) on Thursday 25 March from 1pm to 3pm.

The clinic is open to anyone aged over 50 years or for 18-49 year olds with a chronic health condition (e.g. diabetes). No appointment is required but you must be registered with a GP practice in the borough.

This clinic is only for first doses of the vaccine; proof of age and medical conditions must be provided.

Mr Rumbelow added: “Despite the problems with national supplies, we remain on course to meet the government’s target of offering the vaccine to everyone in the first nine priority groups by 15 April and could even complete the task ahead of schedule.”