The Prime Minister will be happy to have the AstraZeneca vaccine when his turn comes to have a jab.
Boris Johnson's official spokesman said today that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency had been “extremely clear that both vaccines are both safe and effective”.
It comes as Downing Street again defended the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns in some EU countries about possible side-effects.
The spokesman said the World Health Organisation has also “been clear that the AZ vaccine is both safe and effective, they said there was no reason for concern and distribution of the vaccine should not be suspended”.
Asked if the PM would be willing to have the AstraZeneca jab, the spokesman said: “Yes, he would be perfectly happy to take the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Germany, France, Spain and Italy are among the nations that have announced temporary halts on the rollout of the vaccine while they await an investigation by the European Medicines Agency.
It is due to report by Thursday after unconfirmed links of the vaccine to blood clots that many experts have rejected as an over-reaction.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has said it does not think the jab causes blood clots. It reached that finding after studying data on 11 million people who have been given the vaccine in Britain.
In addition, a spokesman for the World Health Organisation has emphasised there is no evidence the vaccine causes blood clots.
It has urged countries to keep using it.
