NHS HAD CLOT ADVICE BEFORE PUBLIC ALERT

MORE than one in 10 people say they would not feel safe having the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of a link with rare blood clots, a poll shows.

- Lucy Johnston

But 67 per cent say they would have no issue having the jab. This rose to 73 per cent in the 18-24 age group, despite the under-30s being offered an alternative vaccine, the Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll found.

The Government has insisted the AstraZeneca jab is safe. Boris Johnson said it had “already saved thousands of lives”, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged people to “trust in our doctors and scientists”, and said he is looking forward to receiving his second AstraZeneca dose.

Documents show that public health officials had given advice on how to treat the blood clots being linked to the jab a week before a public media briefing last Wednesday, when the deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, announced that under-30s would be offered alternative vaccines due to the concern.