Transcripts For BBCNEWS Breakfast 20201203

Than nine months away. Good morning. For england and wales today we are looking at rain or showers. In scotla nd looking at rain or showers. In scotland and Northern Ireland, sunshine and showers. Some of them will be wintry. It will feel cold. More in ten minutes. Good morning. Its thursday, the 3rd of december. Our top story. The first doses of the Pfizer Biontech Coronavirus Vaccine will arrive in britain within hours. A Mass Vaccination Programme will Begin Next Week, after the uk became the first country in the world to approve the jab yesterday. Andy moore has the details. The uk has become the first country in the western world to authorise the use of a vaccine. At a press conference, Vaccine Development was once again compared to a train coming down the track. The train has now slowed down safely. It has now stopped in the station, and the doors have opened. That was the authorisation by the mhra. What we need now is for people to get on that train and travel safely to their destinations. The Prime Minister called it a huge moment, but he also urged caution. Its all the more vital that, as we celebrate this scientific achievement, were not carried away with over optimism, or fall into the naive belief that the struggle is over. Its not. Weve got to stick to our winter plan. 800,000 doses of the vaccine are due to arrive in the uk shortly. They have to be kept at very low temperatures. So distribution at first will be through major hospitals. That means that care home residents, although top of the governments priority list, are unlikely to get the vaccine first. The uk regulator said the process of authorisation had been rapid, but no less thorough. No corners have been cut. Our experts, scientists and clinicians have worked round the clock carefully, methodically, poring over tables and analyses and graphs on every single piece of data. The vaccine roll out is due to happen across all four nations of the uk at the same pace. In Northern Ireland, officials have set aside a new Hospital Emergency Department as one of seven designated vaccination sites. In scotland, the first doses are expected to be given on tuesday. 0ther vaccines are also on the horizon. 0ne developed by Oxford University and astrazeneca is currently being reviewed by the uk regulator. Another from the American Company, moderna, is also being examined by regulators around the world. It will take months to roll out vaccines to everyone in the uk who wants one, but the process is set to begin very shortly. Andy moore, bbc news. Lots of you have sent in questions about the vaccine. Well be answering some of them at 8. 30am, when well be joined by the deputy chief medical officer for england, professor Jonathan Van Tam. He will be with us for 20 minutes and he will answer any questions. If you want to send your questions and, you want to send your questions and, you can. So much came out yesterday. So much news. A lot of it positive news. But always there are more questions. There are bits you dont understand. So please go to those questions in. He is the man to the questions. 8 30am. Students sitting gcse and a level exams in england next year, will be awarded more generous grades to compensate for the disruption to schooling during the pandemic. Pupils will get advanced notice of exam topics and be allowed to use memory aids. Measures will also be put in place to help students who miss exams because of self isolation. Heres more from our education editor, bra nwen jeffreys. Heading home to self isolate, year 11 at this secondary school. Just before it was confirmed, some shared their gcse fears with me. I have a lot of worries about gcses because i really feel like theres not much being done about the amount of time we missed. But im especially worried about english and maths because those are a must have for any sixth form. I prefer to be in school to learn. So the disruption to that is just going to really knock my focus off my education. So would narrowing down the topics in each subject help . I think that will be the most beneficial thing, one of the most beneficial things that they can do, because it really like, gives you that tiny bit of hope that we need at this time, just so then we get that little bit of help that we notice. I wish there was a bit more done done honestly. I feel like, obviously its going to help, but it might not be enough to really make everyone feel comfortable with what theyre doing, because personally, im not confident with what im doing, but i feel like it will help a little bit. How will gcse and day level exams work in 2021 . Grades will be more generous than normal, mainly in line with 2020. Advance warning of some topics will be given, but not the questions. Some study aids will be allowed. That could be a formula or a vocabulary list. And special measures will be used to work out grades for an exam missed. After a term of covid disruption, this does give schools a bit more certainty. But theyre going to have to wait until january to find out what topics will be and which exam papers. And theres still one big unanswered question. How do you take account of the fact that some kids have missed so much more learning than others . So an expert group will look at that bigger picture, but grades arent likely to be adjusted. And here, theyre worried about disruption after christmas. If we stick to the plan and the continued disruption across the country happens right through until, whether its march or april, i think youre going to have a massive impact on the well being of young people and families. And were going to see a very unfair system and probably a return to the debacle of last summer. Northern ireland also plans to hold exams, but in wales, theyve been cancelled. While scotland only plans to have exams for highers. Schools are still dealing with coronavirus. Faith in these plans will be tested in the next few months. Branwen jeffreys, bbc news, herne bay. Students heading back to university in england after christmas, face a staggered return to avoid a surge in coronavirus cases. Plans drawn up by the government will see those on more practical courses such as science or medicine going back in earlyjanuary, while those studying subjects like english, history and maths may have to wait until february. The announcement comes as a seven day travel window opens today, to allow students to return home for the christmas break. Pubs, bars and restaurants injersey are set to close from midnight, in order to tackle a surge in covid cases. Takeaways and shops can stay open, but people must follow the two metre social distancing rule. Gyms will have to close. The Circuit Breaker measures are expected to remain in place until the 4th of january. 56 new covid cases were identified yesterday, the biggest daily total of new infections recorded so far. I know that collectively these measures represent a significant restriction on islanders, particularly at this time of year, when we want to be celebrating and spending time with loved ones and friends. But we need to prevent our Health Services from being overwhelmed this and to ensure we are still able to celebrate during the festive period. Sending live animals abroad for slaughter will be banned in england and wales, under government plans announced today. The environment secretary, george eustice, has told the bbc the measures could be in place by the end of 2021, and would cut the amount of time animals spend in trucks in the uk. 0ur Political Correspondent helen catt has more. Only a few thousand of the millions of animals bred for meat in the uk end up being shipped to europe for slaughter. But their long journeys can cause them distress and even injury. So there have been calls for decades for the practice to be banned. Now the government says it will be in england and wales, it hopes, by the end of 2021. We think weve struck the right balance here. This will remove the trade that i think most people are concerned about, which is predominantly the export of lambs for slaughter to continental europe. But it will enable high value breeding stock still to be traded. Those tend to be transported in very good conditions. An outright ban like this was impossible under eu law. We know that, because a council in kent tried it in 2012, after more than a0 sheep had to be put down at the port in ramsgate. The High Court Ruled it was a breach of eu free trade rules. There had been fears a ban may not be possible under global trade rules either, but ministers are confident this is in line with them. The rspca has always said to the government, we dont mind how you get to your goal of stopping live exports, we just want to stop them. The end goal is the most important thing, how to stop all of our live animals going abroad and us losing control over where they go or how theyre killed. That, for the rspca, is the most important thing. That will improve animal welfare. Ending live animal exports has often been held up as one of the things that the government could and would change once we leave the Single Market and the Customs Union next month. It was a promise too in the conservative manifesto at last years election. So it wont happen in time forjanuary the 1st. But the political will to make the change does seem to be there. The government also plans to cut the number of hours animals can spend in transit within the uk. The National Farmers union has warned that any big changes could have a massive impact on the uks food supply chain. Helen catt, bbc news. So many events have been cancelled this year but the organisers of a traditional festival in el salvador were determined it should go ahead. If youve got coulrophobia that is extreme or irrational fear of clowns you may wish to look away now. These are the scenes from clown day, which went ahead in the capital city of san salvador despite the pandemic. The clowns had to have temperature checks before they were allowed to join the festivities. Look how happy they are. Look, happy clients. With facemasks. And green hair. Its all good. I am clients. With facemasks. And green hair. Its all good. Iam never responsible for the running order, as in the running of the order of the stories. But from clients to carol, i dont know what they are saying, carol . What my clients. We try to make everything seamless on breakfast. Take it as it is. Good morning. Good morning. Im going to let that one goes straight out of the window lots of weather. We start off with the risk of snow and ice. 0vernight we have seen some snow in the hills in the north. Some of it has gone down to lower levels across parts of northern and western scotland. Across Northern Ireland, scotla nd scotland. Across Northern Ireland, scotland and england there is the risk of ice. There are quite a few hazards. You can see all the weather warnings on our website. To give you an idea, this is where we have got of the snow. A lot of it is in the hills. Some of it is down to lower levels in the north and west of scotland. As well as that, we have also got a fair bit of rain coming in across southern areas, across england and wales. Through the course of the day the rain will push eastwards. Brisk winds through the English Channel. As we push further north, things will improve in the sense that they will dry up, there will be some sunshine and they will still be some showers affecting the north and west of scotland and Northern Ireland. Still the risk of some of those being wintry, mostly on the hills. In any of those showers today, especially in the west, you could see hail and thunder and lightning. It will feel cold. Look at the temperature in aberdeen. Early breaking freezing. Where we have the cloud and rain, we are looking at a 6 degrees. This evening and overnight follow this band of rain. What it is going to do is move up rain. What it is going to do is move up the north sea. It is going to pivot and bring rain and on its leading edge we will see some snow away from the coast. Snow in eastern scotland. You can see some in edinburgh first thing in the morning. As we come further south, the other end of this band of rain, and its leading edge also looks like it is going to have some snow. We could also see some of it getting down to lower levels for a time in some of the heavier bursts. Towards the west, well, there will be some showers and it is going to be a cold night. These are the temperatures into towns and cities. In rural parts of scotland temperatures could fall to 5 or 6. The risk of ice. Even further south it is not going to bea even further south it is not going to be a particularly warm night. It will feel cold. I am only giving you brief details. A longer forecast in half an hour, when i will look at the snow that is going to fall tomorrow. Charlie and naga. Thank you, carol. Lets take a look at some of todays front pages. And they all lead on the vaccine, with varying levels of excitement. now we can reclaim our lives is the telegraph headline, quoting the Prime Minister boris johnson. The daily mail calls the news a shot in the arm for britain. Its front page includes a picture of a care home resident, john cutter, hugging his daughter liz for the First Time Since february. Wow, what a moment that is. If weve been fighting a war against covid, then yesterday was v day thats what the metro is calling it. And the mirror has a picture of a lorry leaving the pfizer factory in belgium yesterday, apparently loaded with vaccine doses for the uk. The headline says, its on its way. We keep reminding you this morning because id aid 30 am Jonathan Van Tam, the deputy chief medical 0fficer, you will know very well from the press conferences often alongside the Prime Minister, he is joining us for about 20 minutes at half past eight this morning, keen to a nswer half past eight this morning, keen to answer your questions. You will know from his way, he is very good at addressing things head on in his own style. So we have time with him this morning. Keep those questions coming infor this morning. Keep those questions coming in for him. Hes good at analogies as well, isnt he . Trains, football, yoghurt, those are the things he has been talking about. Are we doing the insides . Yes. I have gone airily on your face insides . Yes. I have gone airily on yourface on insides . Yes. I have gone airily on your face on friday. Insides . Yes. I have gone airily on yourface on friday. I dont want to ta ke yourface on friday. I dont want to take away from your badge on friday. Early. Fashion thursday. What do you see here, surely . Forget the writing. What do you see . A bag yet. Any thoughts on the baggot . Do you like it . Its big. Its a substantial bag yet. Do you know there is a handbag called the bag wet. Bag yet. This is a handbag. It is on sale though. The full price was 758 pounds. That was for this one, a handbag shaped like a croissant. But this has been knocked down by £228 to £530. Is there is a . Is down by £228 to £530. Is there is a . Is a . Down by £228 to £530. Is there is a . Isa . I down by £228 to £530. Is there is a . Is a . I dont know if it is a clasp or is it . Would that swing it for you . Well, i dont particularly like it. Given the choice of a handbag shaped like a baguette, or a bigot, i would handbag shaped like a baguette, or a bigot, iwould have handbag shaped like a baguette, or a bigot, i would have one every time. Ifi bigot, i would have one every time. If i get. 0n the food theme, there has been a lot of talk about scotch eggs recently. You will know the reasons why. Here is some detail. Just some of the things about how you make a scotch egg. I dont think it is something people normally think about making at home. Have you ever made one . No. I have. Any good . It was, yeah. Harry goes into detail, talking to experts about how you should cook the egg prior to making the scotch egg. Some people say it should be a bit runny still. Ata say it should be a bit runny still. At a lot of the experts say it needs to be seriously hard boiled. So it is really firm. And doesnt do this using thing. No, i mean no thejoy of the scotch egg is cutting into it. When you cut into it and you see that gloriously scrumptious slightly firm but still soft. It looks beautiful. Apparently not. I would just point out that Fortnum Mason stuff they are scotch eggs. First six scotch eggs you would pay 22. 95. Are they substantial . I dont know. But thats a lot of money, even if they are quite big. Good luck if you are making scotch eggs at home. £3 50 for each scotch egg. Thats kind of like what you would pay in a pub. I9 of like what you would pay in a pub. 19 minutes past six. England entered a new three tier system of covid restrictions yesterday, with most of the nation in the top two tiers. Only three areas made it into tier one, including the isle of wight, where people are allowed to meet indoors in small groups and enjoy a drink in a pub again. And islanders have been quick to enjoy the eased restrictions. Matt treacy reports. Hi, brenda hello. A warm welcome to tier one. Meeting with friends and family indoors, but still in the rule of six, is one of the big changes here on the isle of wight. Jane works as a registrar and has five weddings to do this saturday. A little bit of freedom, but controlled freedom, which is fantastic. The shops are opening. Were able to go out again, enjoya meal. Its that little bit of normality that weve been craving. Brenda struggled during lockdown, and is delighted to welcome friends back into her home. I feel privileged to be able to. To have that relaxation and enjoy it, but, you know, we still have to be careful. We still have to make sure that we work within the guidelines. I mean, being an island is really nice, because we do feel somewhat protected. But i personally really welcome the tourists. But would i want the island to be flooded right now . I dont know. People in higher tiers can still come to the island. Theres no law preventing that. But the government says travel to and from the highest level, tier 3, should be avoided. Well, from this spot we are less than five miles from tier 2, hampshire. But the difference obviously is most people have to use a ferry in order to get to the isle of wight. 0n ours there was an announcement just before we got off, asking passengers to act as if they were in their home tier, in order to protect the island. Its very, very difficult for us to police whos travelling and for what reason, very much in the same way as any other part of public transport. Thats kind of not really ourjob. But we do just make sure that were communicating the key messages, which, you know, which is, you know, you can you can travel to the isle of wight from tier 2, but not from tier 3. This pub in newport was busy at lunchtime. And unlike the mainland, you dont have to buy food in order to enjoy a drink. Whats it like being in tier then . Brilliant, happy days thats what its like in tier 1. Come and join us on. Were on our lunch break enjoying a nice pint of beer because were in tier i. Its nice. Itsjust nice to be out, you know, itsjust lovely to be out. But hopefully, you know, with this good news today about the vaccine, its only going to be for a limited period, then we can all sort of act this way. I guess theyve got to treat people accordingly, havent they . If theyve got higher rates of infection that its got to be done. Were just very fortunate at the minute. The local authority says its working on a plan to give visitors to the island information and guidance as they step off the ferry. The Council Leader puts it simply. If you dont need to come, dont come. Matt treacy, newport on the isle of wight. There are many people, including those in this office, who watched that and are a little bit envious. They may start socialising, of course they do. But it is nice to see some people enjoying it. Its set to be a record christmas for Online Shopping but what happens if it goes wrong . It doesnt always go wrong. I know you are talking about the vaccine this morning, which is very important. So is education, so is the tiered system. So is Christmas Shopping i was at the Trafford Centre in manchester yesterday morning, as non essential shops opened up again in england. But early figures suggest the number of shoppers is still way down on last year. Lots of us clearly preferring the safety of staying at home and shopping online this christmas. So this is a really timely chat. What happens if things go wrong . In october, online sales accounted for nearly a third of all our shopping. That was up from nearly a fifth injanuary, before the pandemic. But more orders can potentially mean more problems. This morning the Consumer Group which . Says nearly seven in ten shoppers had problems with christmas deliveries last year. Well, which . Says almost a fifth of christmas shoppers told them their delivery arrived late last year. The problem is unless the company specifically states a delivery date, your rights are difficult. By law, delivery only needs to be within a reasonable time. Thats normally up to 30 days. The best advice is to check a delivery slot is confirmed when you order. Sometimes it might cost a bit more but it is worth it. Think also about posting dates as well if youre sending letters and parcels. These are the all important final royal mail posting dates for parcels and letters going elsewhere in the uk, to make sure they get there by christmas. For overseas you should really get your skates on. 0bviously, other Parcel Delivery firms are available and will have their own cut off dates. Back to deliveries, what about if the parcel youve ordered gets lost . This is where you might have said that the parcel could be left with a neighbour or in a safe place. If youve explicitly given your permission, then you may struggle to get compensation for that. If the parcel is left somewhere like the doorstep without permission, and is then stolen, the retailer is in breach of contract there and they need to replace and redeliver your item, or give you a refund. As ever, talking to the company is key. If your online orderjust hasnt turned up, or its turned up on the doorstep, damaged, your legal rights are with the retailer, not the courier company. Dont feel the need to get in touch with them. Instead, get in touch with the retailer to sort it out under the Consumer Rights act. They are the ones legally responsible for your order safely making it to you. So they should be your first port of call if youre empty handed and christmas is getting there. Were going to be following this issue up over the next few weeks. So if youve got questions about a delivery or if you have a problem you want resolved, do get in touch. You can email us at bbcbrea kfast bbc. Co. Uk, or share your thoughts with other viewers on our facebook page. And you can tweet us at bbcbreakfast. Really interesting looking at this report, some of the problems are avoided including parcels being damaged after being thrown over the fence, it loathes delivery ending up ina fence, it loathes delivery ending up in a food waste bin. And i pass are left out in the rain where it was chewed by foxes. A parcel left out of the rain. That is where the Consumer Rights association is really important. It is worth quoting that at them if you get into a position where you are not getting your money back. Is your Christmas Tree at home, have all the baubles got consumer advice on them . Is that how you do your christmas . Yes. Pick them off and read some consumer advice. And the children are not allowed presence unless they called me appendices from the Consumer Rights act. I think its very important. Christmas, whenever. Learning about personal finance when you are young is very important. And great fun yeah, fun times. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning. Im sonja jessup. The rise in covid cases in basildon in essex has been described as a really grave situation by the local Council Leader, who is calling for schools to break up early for christmas. The county is in tier 2 but basildons case rate is among the highest in england, and almost half of cases are thought to be related to schools. As some football fans are allowed back in to stadiums, labour are calling on the government to set out plans to keep supporters safe when they travel on public transport. West ham are one of five premier league clubs wholl welcome back up to 2,000 fans this weekend. The department for transport says there is clear advice on travel and its working closely with transport bosses. If its live music youve been missing during the pandemic, steps have been talking to bbc london about how theyre going to play the 02 next year. The band was supposed to perform there this week, but the tour was cancelled. Theyre hoping to stage a series of gigs next november to promote their sixth studio album. We will be here this Time Next Year, almost to the day. We are sat where we will have the stage. Hopefully we will. We are obviously keeping our fingers crossed that by november, December Next year, we can go ahead with the tour. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. Now some good news first of all, because the tube looks much better than it did yesterday. Most lines running as normal, just the ongoing closure of the waterloo and city line. This is how it looks on the a13 westbound Traffic Building heading out of dagenham into barking. And on the m25, there are anticlockwise delays from junction 2a for potters bar towards junction 23 for the aim south mimms a broken down crane is blocking a lane. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. A chilly start with temperatures widely above zero so it should be frost free. We have got outbreaks of rain and these will continue through much of the day. Largely light and patchy but you might get one or two heavy burst mixed in. Quite a blustery day as the rain moves through. The temperature feeling cold between five and seven celsius. 0vernight tonight the rain will start to move north and we will have a brief spell where it should be dry and largely clear but then the next band of rain arrives in the early hours of tomorrow and that meets some cold airso tomorrow and that meets some cold air so potentially that could turn a little bit wintry and we might get a bit of wet snow and sleet as we head into tomorrow. The minimum temperature between two and four celsius. For tomorrow, temperature between two and four celsius. Fortomorrow, some temperature between two and four celsius. For tomorrow, some wet snow potentially in the morning and may bea potentially in the morning and may be a slushy covering over the chilterns but it will clear northwards and the weekend stays cold. Well theres more from me in half an hour. Plenty more of course on our website. An also facebook and instagram. Now its back to charlie and naga. Bye for now. Hello. This is breakfast with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty. Coming up on breakfast this morning with the coronavirus Vaccination Programme rolling out next week, well have englands deputy chief medical officer, professor Jonathan Van Tam, with us to answer all your questions. Its an Opening Night like no other for actors martin shaw andJenny Seagrove. Theyre starring in a new west end production at one of the first venues to re open with an audience under the new tiered system. Well speak to them later. And Chris Packham will tell us about his new documentary which takes a look at the african ecosystem through a unique experiment filming a manmade waterhole in africa for a whole year. The first people eligible for the newly approved coronavirus jab should start to receive their vaccines from next week. So, how will it work and where would you go to get one . Heres laura foster with the details. Uk regulators have looked at the evidence and say the pfizer and biotech vaccines have offered 90 protection and is safe to roll out in the uk. Anyone getting the vaccine will need two doses, around three weeks apart and after you have had the second dose it will take seven days for the vaccine to work fully. And it needs to be kept in ultra cold storage at around 70 celsius. That is a big challenge. We have worked to actually build a very specific shipper, which is essentially like a pizza box that is packed with dry ice, and that maintains the temperature without any further refrigeration or any further freezer for ten days. The any further refrigeration or any furtherfreezerfor ten days. The uk has ordered 11 million doses, enough a20 has ordered 11 million doses, enough a 20 million people. But not all doses are ready yet. 800,000 doses are coming first and will be prioritised for people in care homes, but the companies behind the vaccine say they can supply 50 million doses by the end of the year around the world. And around 1. 3 billion by the end of 2021. Important to say this is not the only vaccine around, but it is the first to be approved in the uk. There are others such as the mcdermott and astrazeneca vaccines which are waiting to be approved, so we could have a more vaccine soon. Joining us now is the gp, dr rosemary leonard. Nice to see you there. Jonathan van tam who we will talk to you later, he talked about his reaction yesterday, about hearing the news that this vaccine had got the official go ahead and said it was emotional. You as well, i dont know where you were or what you are doing when you heard the news. Where you were or what you are doing when you heard the newslj where you were or what you are doing when you heard the news. I was in my surgery, on the phone to patients and, yes, we were over the moon and then later in the afternoon we also got the news that my surgery, along with our primary care network, that group of three surgeries, we have been approved as a designated site to give the vaccine, so we are all systems raring to go. Well, you will know by now from speaking to your patients that everybody has lots of questions, so on that theme and i know the roll out within gps is a step further down the line, we know that, because it will be in care homes and hospitals first and gps further down the line, but can you explain to us how it will work within your practice . How will it operate . At the moment we are not sure which vaccine we will get and certainly the first one is a logistical challenge because of these blocks of 975 vaccine doses, but once they are thawed they can store in a standard fridge for up to five days, so what we imagine we will do is go out to housebound elderly first and then getting on the other elderly but we have to do this ina the other elderly but we have to do this in a socially distanced way and we also have to remember that we have to give everyone to doses, so its a real logistical challenge and we know people are crying out to get the vaccine as soon as possible and i would say please, dont call your gp surgery, they will call you. We will be on this efficiently as we can, but you have a certain amount of people and you have to bring them all back again or see them again in another three weeks time, so weve really got to do this very carefully. Take us through a couple more of the practical issues, because people will be aware by now that the Pfizer Vaccine has to be kept at a very low temperature, 60, some industrial temperatures, you say you can store them for a period of time at the surgery and then be able to take them out to those who are in most need some kind of mobile refrigeration . Yes, that is what we do with the flu vaccine but we have another problem at the moment and that our fridges another problem at the moment and that ourfridges which another problem at the moment and that our fridges which are special vaccine refrigerators are absolutely full of the flu vaccine that we are now giving to the 50 to 64 year olds so we are being told we have ten days notice before we get the coving vaccine, but it comes in these blocks of 975 and they then have to be deleted die looted, but they have a standard medicinal fridge sheu have a standard medicinal fridge shelf life and we already have cold packs we take out when we do flu vaccines at home, so we hope we can use the same cold packs but we are waiting for further guidance. Its really interesting information, and the weight will be dispensed, lots of people curious about that, but at the moment you are trying to make people get the flu vaccine. I am assuming, hugely important as the Coronavirus Vaccine is, you have got right now another task on your hands. This is a huge task and in our surgery alone we have an extra 875 people eligible for the flu vaccine and we can only have six people in our surgery waiting room at any one time, so we had to set up at any one time, so we had to set up a one way system in the front door and out the door at the back so we can have people through as quickly as possible and the other thing is they are saying you should not have they are saying you should not have the flu vaccine and the covid 19 vaccine within seven days of each other so i would say to any elderly people, those at the front of the queue, if you have not had a flu vaccine yet, please, please, you are the ones that should be contacting your surgery to get it as soon as possible so we can then give you the covi vaccine because there has to be weeks between the two. Generally, there are some people who anyway, in whatever circumstances dont necessarily like vaccinations. It could literally need to do with needles or wider concerns. Are you able yet to get a sense of the appetite that people have for getting the Coronavirus Vaccine . think it is quite polarised. There are some saying, yes, like me, i would love to have this as soon as possible and there are others that are saying, well, actually, im not sure. Some saying i dont want to haveitin sure. Some saying i dont want to have it in others saying they would like others to have it first. When any new vaccine and im sure Jonathan Van Tam will talk more about this, this vaccine has been expensively tested because there have been so many people with coronavirus because its been a common illness extensively tested. To be honest, we dont know the long term side effects, but that is the case with every new vaccine, it takes time when it is being rolled out but there is no reason to suspect that this vaccine will be any more risky in the long term than any more risky in the long term than any other vaccine and we are reassuring people of that as much as we can. Doctor rosemary, you have a very, very busy patch coming up. 0ver very, very busy patch coming up. Over the next weeks and months and we will chat to you as things unfold. Thank you very much and nice to see you this morning. Things have changed. There is a feeling that things have changed with the vaccine on the way. And things have changed in sport, because yesterday we saw mike that some games were going to have fans. I was driving up the motorway last night and it felt so emotional, so strange. Hearing the match reports from charlton with fa ns match reports from charlton with fans in the background. So different to the manufacturing sound we have got used to and i love the fact that at Wycombe Wanderers and cheltenham the referee but stick and gave a wry smile. They have missed it as well, being ignored by the silence and also at luton we saw the manager of norwich saying that the referee had been influenced by the home fans. Things that were taken for granted about football all back. And last night it started to feel com plete last night it started to feel complete as the life and soul had returned for the First Time Since march. 2,000 were allowed in to watch shrewsbury town for example, taking on accrington stanley, and our Sports Editor dan roan was there. Football and fans reunited. Some of the lucky 2000 shrewsbury supporters allowed back inside almost nine months after sport was advanced behind closed doors. Was forced behind. Its wonderfulto have our supporters on the ground. Its been a lonely place for many weeks, and ive been doing the pa for over 40 years and i dont think i realised just how important our fans are to a game of football. Having had to pass temperature checks and being allocated seats according to household groups, fans also had to wear facemasks household groups, fans also had to wearfacemasks in a ground household groups, fans also had to wear facemasks in a ground that when the full can hold five times as many. You are obviously thinking financially about doing this because we are stewarding the full stadium and everyone is a season ticket holder, so its not ideal financially but at the end of the day its important as a small step to getting full crowds backing by proving to everyone that football can operate safely in an outdoor environment. Halftime refreshments we re environment. Halftime refreshments were available but only outside the ground. For those who had had to wait so long to return, this was an evening to cherish. Weve missed it so evening to cherish. Weve missed it so much and it feels so different to actually watch Live Football again. You forget, having sat and watched at home. Its fantastic. Itsjust supporting your team and getting behind them. Its the atmosphere, seeing all your friends and everything. Its the match day experience, really. For clubs like shrewsbury to start making money again in gate receipts they will need more fans back in the ground and justice but its about more than finances. This a hugely encouraging return of the passion and atmosphere that sport has missed now for so long. Still no fans at old trafford though with Greater Manchester in tier three, and united could have done with the support as they lost to Paris Saint Germain in the champions league. Neymar got two goals in a 3 1win for the french side, Manchester United also had midfielder fred sent off. They will still qualify for the last 16 if they avoid defeat against rb leipzig in theirfinal group game. It was a brilliant night for chelsea, and their striker 0livier giroud. He got all the goals in their 4 0 win away at sevilla. They had already qualified for the last 16, and will now finish top of their group. Championjockey 0isin murphy has spoken for the First Time Since being banned for testing positive for cocaine. In an exclusive interview with bbc sport the irishman admitted that his reputation has been damanged. Hes serving a three month ban, and says that investigators had accepted that he hadnt taken the drug. I became aware of a situation where cocaine was present in my environment and i saw it there and i did not remove myself from that situation immediately, and when you sign for yourjockeys situation immediately, and when you sign for your jockeys license situation immediately, and when you sign for yourjockeys license every year, youve got to abide by the rules and that was my error, and i very much have no self pity. I made a mistake and ive got to live with the consequences. Tyson fury, will remain on the shortlist, for this years bbc Sports Personality of the year award, despite saying he wants to be taken off the list. The world heavyweight boxing champion tweeted that he was the peoples champion, and had no need for verification, or any awards. But a bbc spokesperson said the shortlist was decided by an independent expert panel, which looked at sporting achievement, and on this basis he will remain. And that will be announced on the 20th of december on the sunday. Mike, thanks very much. Heres carol with a look at this mornings weather. What are we saying this morning . What are we saying this morning . What is going on there . Are you fully prepared . What is going on there . Are you fully prepared . It what is going on there . Are you fully prepared . It was like a dance move. Carol literally sliding in. The electric slide into shot. I was just i wasjust practising. I was just practising. Thats all. I hadnt switched on my own air light which would stop someone coming in the studio not that there is Anyone Around to do that, but it is a discipline you get into but they are on now. Where is the bottom . Just off the side like a light switch . Right over here. I have a big console where we can control the camera height, the lights. Youve got control. Excellent. Its the only thing i have control over im afraid. Pressing on, if you arejust stepping out there are a few met 0ffice weather warnings and we have them all on the website but to abbreviate some of what is happening this morning, there is some ice and snow to watch out for and most of this is in the north and we have had snow overnight, falling across parts of scotland, mostly in the hills, but some of it is down to lower levels in the north and west and there is also eyes to watch out for on untreated surfaces across Northern Ireland, Northern England and also scotland and you can see what is happening as low pressure dominates the weather and all of the blue colours indicate coldness we are feeling and tomorrow something milder will swing in from the east, and that will change the weather, so some of us seeing snow and it will eventually get back to rain. This is a combination of rain and snow, and most of this has fallen on the hills and you can see we have had some in lower levels in north west scotland and we will continue with this through the day you showers in scotla nd through the day you showers in scotland and Northern Ireland and a wintry mix and heavier burst. Across england and wales, we have rain pushing east and north and some will be heavy later in sussex and kent for example and some of the showers across the Northern Hills will also be wintry. Brisk winds through the English Channel today and along the south coast of england, but here, the temperatures are going to be as low as they will be further north, but where ever you are, it will feel cold. Then as we head through the evening and overnight, lets follow the band of rain and what it will do is move up the north sea and then it will come back in on the coast where we will have rain but as it comes in land and engages with the cold air we will see some snow stop most of this will be in the hills but we will see some at lower levels, for example, in edinburgh, you might wa ke example, in edinburgh, you might wake up to snow but it will be transient and on the other end of this you can see two on the western flank of the band of rain where there is snow, and again most of it will be in the hills but at lower levels you could see some of that getting down to may some slushy accumulations but clear skies a cold night and there will be the risk of ice where we have the damp surfaces in scotland and also Northern England. For tomorrow, here in scotland and also Northern England. Fortomorrow, here is in scotland and also Northern England. For tomorrow, here is the low pressure that is driving the weather. You can see the various fronts wrapped around it and both of them are going to bring rain, sleet and snow for a time. In the south east restart with the sleet and snow combination and it could be and snow combination and it could be a little bit further west, so we could see some of that getting into london. We have snow to start within in eastern scotland and it will drift towards the west through the course of the day and remember i showed you the milder air coming in, that means we will a return to rain, some are very that means we will a return to rain, some are very messy that means we will a return to rain, some are very messy picture and it will also be pretty windy across western scotland. These are the temperatures and it will feel cold with a wind chill and it will get quieter but still cold at the weekend. How many layers are you at . When i am out . Even in the house it is baltic. I have twojumpers on at the moment. My mother always said, put on more jumpers, the moment. My mother always said, put on morejumpers, you dont need to turn up the heating. I looked like the michelin man. students in england will get some extra help with their a level and gcse exams this summer, because of the disruption caused by the pandemic. Pupils will get advance notice on some topics and therell be a chance to resit exams missed because of illness or self isolation. Tim muffett is at a school in east london to find out more. Good morning, tim. There has been so much uncertainty for students, pa rents much uncertainty for students, parents and of course teachers with regards to examinations in the summerand at regards to examinations in the summer and at this Community Academy in North East London i am here to get some sort of reaction to the proposals and the announcements weve heard this morning. Rebecca, you are the principle here. What is your sense of what has been announced . Is it your sense of what has been announced . Is it enough . your sense of what has been announced . Is it enough . Ithink your sense of what has been announced . Is it enough . I think the fairfor announced . Is it enough . I think the fair for pupils, announced . Is it enough . I think the fairfor pupils, i have announced . Is it enough . I think the fair for pupils, i have to say, it is music to my ears. Its what weve been waiting for. I think the key word is uncertainty and what children and adults across the world have experienced last year is a world of uncertainty. Now we are in a position where pupils know exactly what they are aiming for and we will make sure they are able to get there. Looking at some of these announcements in more detail, some of the subjects, there will be a strong hint as to what aspects are going to be examined. What difference will it make . It will home the childrens understanding, so home the childrens understanding, so the examiners will be testing their skill set as opposed to a dearth of information that they would usually have to cram for, so hopefully it will give them the confidence to really make sure that they can be examined in the correct way. And disadvantaged pupils, due to absence, will be able to really excel. The students who were here last year, how difficult was it for them to deal with all of the uncertainty . It was practically impossible. But i think what has come out today is a best fit solution to an absolutely imperfect circumstance and our role as educators is to imbue the children with confidence that they can do it and they will, quite rightly, be given the platform to excel and really show what they are made. So your plan now, how will things change in the immediate basis crushed by the gcse students are doing mock exams at the moment so what will you do differently . Already we have thought about how we will adapt or bridge the curriculum to make up for the months missed. If im honest with you, we will be largely business as usual because that provides certainty for our children. They know what to expect, they are thriving on the challenge of the mock exams and just yesterday i walked into the playground and the children were testing each other and there was a real buzz about it. A Senior Member of staff last week walked home behind some at year 11 is whod come out of the english mock exams and they were animated and discussing and breaking down the questions they had just tackled. Its great to get that back. Is the system fair for its great to get that back. Is the system fairfor all its great to get that back. Is the system fair for all students . As i said it is a best fit scenario for an imperfect solution. Especially for our disadvantaged students. 14 and 49 of the cohort here are disadvantaged in what they will be given is the fairest way of assessing their skills because examination is the fairest and most just way. Have you had enough support from the government up till now . I think its hard to say. I think we have the duty as educators to make sure children get exactly what they need. Interesting stuff. Best of luck with all you have ahead of you. Thats the situation for england, some more clarity in wales and we know the examination aspect of gcses will not be going ahead and in Northern Ireland they will be, and in scotland, only the hires are set to go ahead in the summer, so an extraordinary year for the Education System across the uk. Many challenges and in england at least, certainly a bit more clarity with regards to the way examinations will be happening in the summer. We will be happening in the summer. We will be talking a lot more about this because there will be lots of pa rents because there will be lots of parents and students who will be concerned about what this means for them. Gavin williamson, the education secretary will be talking to us at 730. It is absolutely the case that it has been really challenging for teachers, great teacher there, and students as well. Lots more information coming up. So were three days into december and youve probably got your Advent Calendar on the go. Have you . No, if im honest. Normally i will. I normally have one of those things to pop open and have a chocolate. They tend to go quite quickly. There was a time when my children when they would all be opened on day one. Its notjust children. It happens in lots of houses. And as festive traditions evolve, so too have our calendars lets take a look at the creative ways some of you are counting down to christmas. Number one. Lets pull it out. My name is renata. We live in leeds. And what does it say . It says i love you more. I created this huge Advent Calendarfor my son you more. I created this huge Advent Calendar for my son harry, you more. I created this huge Advent Calendarfor my son harry, and behind each of the panels is a lovely book and we are going to open them every night from now until Christmas Eve and they are really excited and it is a great thing to do with him. Hello, im mark williamson, director of action for happiness, a uk based charity and a big movement of people who are taking action to create a bit more happiness in the world. We are launching a kindness calendar for december. We believe this is the alternative Advent Calendar everybody needs. The one thing that can help us get through this is kindness. Lots of great example and i pick the 2nd of december, contact somebody you cant be with to see how they are. Hi, my name is Andy Flanagan and i live in luton with my wife jane and my daughterjulie and my son, jesse, whose birthday was today. A Pretty Simple idea, 24 windows, 24 days, just like an Advent Calendar but with less of the chocolate. We have an Amazing Community here and i thought it couldnt be that hard to get 24 people to put displays up in the front windows, and it really wasnt hard. Everybody was up for it, lots of folks clubbing together to do an incredible thing. People have been very inventive. I think there is that sense of community which started at the start of the pandemic when we were clapping for carers and people thinking they would knock on doors and make sure people were all right because people were on their own. The different creative way of doing things. Time to get the news where you are. Good morning, im sonja jessup. The rise in covid cases in basildon in essex has been described as a really grave situation by the local Council Leader, who is calling for schools to break up early for christmas. The county is in tier 2, but basildons case rate is among the highest in england, and almost half of cases are thought to be related to schools. As some football fans are allowed back in to stadiums, labour are calling on the government to set out plans to keep supporters safe when they travel on public transport. West ham are one of five premier league clubs wholl welcome back up to 2,000 fans this weekend. The department for transport says there is clear advice on travel, and its working closely with transport bosses. If its live music youve been missing during the pandemic, steps have been talking to bbc london about how theyre going to play the 02 next year. The band was supposed to perform there this week, but the tour was cancelled. Theyre hoping to stage a series of gigs next november, to promote their sixth studio album. We will be here this Time Next Year, almost to the day. We are sat where we will have the stage. Hopefully we will. We are obviously keeping our fingers crossed that by november, December Next year, we can go ahead with the tour. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. The tube looks much better than it did yesterday. Most lines running as normal. Just the ongoing closure of the waterloo and city line. This is how it looks on the a13 westbound Traffic Building heading out of dagenham into barking. 0n the m25, there are anti clockwise delays from junction 24 for potters bar towards junction 23 for the mm south mimms. A broken down crane is blocking a lane. And in charlton, the a207 shooters rd is closed after an accident just past the fox under the hill pub. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. A chilly start with temperatures widely above zero, so it should be frost free. We have got outbreaks of rain and these will continue through much of the day. Largely light and patchy, but you might get one or two heavy bursts mixed in. Quite a blustery day as the rain moves through. The temperature feeling cold between five and seven celsius. 0vernight tonight, the rain will start to move north, and we will have a brief spell where it should be dry and largely clear, but then the next band of rain arrives in the early hours of tomorrow, and that meets some cold air so potentially that could turn a little bit wintry and we might get a bit of wet snow and sleet as we head into tomorrow. The minimum temperature between two and four celsius. For tomorrow, some wet snow potentially in the morning, and maybe a slushy covering over the chilterns, but it will clear northwards and the weekend stays cold. Theres more from me in an hour. Plenty more on our website at the usual address, bye for now. Good morning, welcome to breakfast with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. 0ur headlines today the first doses of a Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in britain within hours, after the uk became the first to approve the jab developed by pfizer and biontech. We need people to take it. This vaccine isnt going to help you if you dont take it. Well put your questions to englands deputy chief medical officer, professorJonathan Van Tam, at 8. 30. Students taking gcse and a level exams in england next year, will be marked more generously to make up for the disruption caused by the pandemic. Good morning. The fans are back thousands returned to Football League grounds in england last night, after nine months away. Good morning. It isa it is a day to day that you will need to wrap up warmly because it is going to be cold. For england and wales sunshine and showers. Wintriness on the hills. For scotla nd wintriness on the hills. For scotland and Northern Ireland are more sunshine and fewer showers. The potential for them to be wintry in the north and west. Details in ten minutes. Good morning. Its thursday, the 3rd of december. Our top story. The first doses of the Pfizer Biontech Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in britain within hours. A Mass Vaccination Programme will Begin Next Week, after the uk became the first country in the world to approve the jab yesterday. Andy moore has the details. The uk has become the first country in the western world to authorise the use of a vaccine. At a press conference, Vaccine Development was once again compared to a train coming down the track. The train has now slowed down safely. It has now stopped in the station, and the doors have opened. That was the authorisation by the mhra. What we need now is for people to get on that train and travel safely to their destinations. The Prime Minister called it a huge moment, but he also urged caution. Its all the more vital that, as we celebrate this scientific achievement, were not carried away with over optimism, or fall into the naive belief that the struggle is over. Its not. Weve got to stick to our winter plan. 800,000 doses of the vaccine are due to arrive in the uk shortly. They have to be kept at very low temperatures. So distribution at first will be through major hospitals. That means that care home residents, although top of the governments priority list, are unlikely to get the vaccine first. The uk regulator said the process of authorisation had been rapid, but no less thorough. No corners have been cut. Our expert scientists and clinicians have worked round the clock carefully, methodically, poring over tables and analyses and graphs on every single piece of data. The vaccine roll out is due to happen across all four nations of the uk at the same pace. In Northern Ireland, officials have set aside a new Hospital Emergency Department as one of seven designated vaccination sites. In scotland, the first doses are expected to be given on tuesday. 0ther vaccines are also on the horizon. 0ne developed by Oxford University and astrazeneca is currently being reviewed by the uk regulator. Another from the American Company, moderna, is also being examined by regulators around the world. It will take months to roll out vaccines to everyone in the uk who wants one, but the process is set to begin very shortly. Andy moore, bbc news. The vaccine is being manufactured by pfizer in belgium. 0ur europe correspondent nick beake spent the day there yesterday and joins us now. Good morning. So we have been reporting it could arrive in hours. Also, lots of questions about how the demand for this vaccine is going to be met . Good morning. Yes, a huge operation for the team and pfizer. About 45 minutes north of here. In a town that is home to about 18,000 people. All eyes on this particular operation because they have got such a big promise to fulfil. It is a sealed site, so we couldnt get in yesterday. But we have seen some images of inside. A huge operation is under way to get the vaccine in the first instance to the united kingdom, and we were told a little about how they would be transporting it. They have got a thermal boxes which keep the vaccine at very low temperature, 17 celsius. In each box they have got between 1000 and 5000 doses of the vaccine. They have got real life time tracking so they can make sure the temperature doesnt get too hot while the vaccine is on its way to the uk. Interestingly, as we have been hearing, as most people know by now, at the end of this month, britain leaves the brexit transition period. In other words, it will leave all the eu rules. I asked the Company Behind the vaccine whether they are worried about the disruption of the border. We have heard some concern they might be. They say they are confident they will keep getting the vaccine to the united kingdom. They will be moving it by lorry or by plane. Certainly a huge operation. They say they can achieve it. And as you were saying, it will be with people in the uk very soon. 800,000 doses in the first instance ready to be rolled out. Next, thank you for taking us through that. Nick beake. Students sitting gcse and a level exams in england next year, will be awarded more generous grades to compensate for the disruption to schooling during the pandemic. Pupils will get advanced notice of exam topics and be allowed to use memory aids. Measures will also be put in place to help students who miss exams because of self isolation. Heres more from our education editor, bra nwen jeffreys. Heading home to self isolate, year 11 at this secondary school. Just before it was confirmed, some shared their gcse fears with me. I have a lot of worries about gcses because i really feel like theres not much being done about the amount of time we missed. But im especially worried about english and maths because those are a must have for any sixth form. I prefer to be in school to learn. So the disruption to that is just going to really knock my focus off my education. So would narrowing down the topics in each subject help . I think that will be the most beneficial thing, one of the most beneficial things that they can do, because it really like, gives you that tiny bit of hope that we need at this time, just so then we get that little bit of help that we notice. I wish there was a bit more done done honestly. I feel like, obviously its going to help, but it might not be enough to really make everyone feel comfortable with what theyre doing, because personally, im not confident with what im doing, but i feel like it will help a little bit. After a term of covid disruption, this does give schools a bit more certainty. But theyre going to have to wait until january to find out what topics will be and which exam papers. And theres still one big unanswered question. How do you take account of the fact that some kids have missed so much more learning than others . So an expert group will look at that bigger picture, but grades arent likely to be adjusted. And here, theyre worried about disruption after christmas. If we stick to the plan and the continued disruption across the country happens right through until, whether its march or april, i think youre going to have a massive impact on the well being of young people and families. And were going to see a very unfair system and probably a return to the debacle of last summer. Northern ireland also plans to hold exams, but in wales, theyve been cancelled. While scotland only plans to have exams for highers. Schools are still dealing with coronavirus. Faith in these plans will be tested in the next few months. Branwen jeffreys, bbc news, herne bay. Students heading back to university in england after christmas, face a staggered return to avoid a surge in coronavirus cases. Plans drawn up by the government will see those on more practical courses, such as science or medicine, going back in early january, while those studying subjects like english, history and maths may have to wait until february. The announcement comes as a seven day travel window opens today, to allow students to return home for the christmas break. Pubs, bars and restaurants injersey are set to close from midnight, in order to tackle a surge in covid cases. Takeaways and shops can stay open but people must follow the two metre social distancing rule. The Circuit Breaker measures are expected to remain in place until the 4th of january. 56 new cases were identified there yesterday, the biggest daily total recorded so far. Sending live animals abroad for slaughter will be banned in england and wales, under government plans announced today. The environment secretary, george eustice, says the measures could be in place by the end of 2021, but the National Farmers union warned that any big changes to regulations could have a massive impact on the uk food supply chain. Nine minutes past seven. It is chilly outside and it is going to get colder and there is going to be snow as well. Why are you here, carol . because some of that was right, naga x might it is a cold start to the day. We have some snow in the forecast but not of course everybody is going to see snow. We have got some lying snow across parts of the north and west of scotland, even at lower levels. The risk of ice in scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland. The met office has quite a few weather warnings out. They are on our website. Do check them out if you are travelling. Here is where we have got the snow in Northern England and the welsh hills. Most of this is hill snow. We have got all this rain moving from the west over towards the east and pushing northwards to the course of the day. As this rain pushes over towards the east, it will turn heavier across parts of sussex and kent. Brisk winds through the English Channel. Meanwhile, north of that band of rain we are looking at some sunshine. A few showers through the afternoon but still the potential in the north and west for some of those to be wintry. In any of the showers today we could hear some thunder and lightning, and we can also see some hail. Through the afternoon, as the system moves north, we will also see some further hill snow across parts of Northern England. This evening and overnight at this band of rain moves up the north sea coastline and it pivots and across Northern England and eastern scotland. So once again we will see some snow away from the coast. The potential for some will see some snow away from the coast. The potentialfor some of that to get down to lower levels as well. There is also the potential in the western flank to see sleet and snow at lower levels. This will be transient. The risk of ice tonight in scotland and Northern Ireland. Temperatures fall away to 5, 6 for some. Tomorrow we start off with snow in central and eastern parts of scotland. It will drift westward through the day. Increasingly it will turn back to rain. But before it does, we could have 15 to 20 centimetres of snow across parts of the grampians. And if you are travelling in some of the higher routes tomorrow, that could cause significant disruption. Further south it is rain we are more likely to see. We cant rule out snow in the hills, of course. But it is going to be cold with a significant wind chill. Yes, it is one of those ones where you weather people say temperature raised out and then feels like. That is absolutely right. There is not enough time to get all the details in and then put in the field is like, so you have to sacrifice something. But it will feel cold. Wrap up warmly. I was trying to figure out a 20 centimetres in the grampians. That is a lot of snow. It isafair grampians. That is a lot of snow. It is a fair bit. The uk has become the first country in the world to approve a Coronavirus Vaccine, and the first doses could arrive within hours. Its been manufactured by Us Pharmaceutical Company pfizer with their partner, biontech, and vaccinations will begin here next week. Lets take a look at what we know so far. Data released last month shows it offers 95 protection against covid 19 across all age groups, and any side effects are mild. The uk has 40 million doses on order thats enough for 20 million people. 800,000 of those are already on their way here. It will be given as two injections, three weeks apart. Immunity begins after the first dose, but reaches maximum protection one week after the second dose. The vaccine has to be stored at minus 70 degrees celsius. Because hospitals already have the facilities for this, the first vaccinations are likely to take place there, for care home workers, nhs staff and patients. Although the Pfizer Vaccine is the first to be given the green light, two others are also currently being reviewed by the uk regulator and could be approved soon. Youve been sending in lots of questions about the vaccine, and were going to try and answer some of those for you now with epidemiologist professor sian griffiths and virologist, dr chris smith. Good morning to you both. Good morning. We have just explained the vaccine and how it will be stored, the fact there are other vaccines waiting for approval. Maddies asked, how can we be sure the vaccine is safe with such a short testing period and quick approval . Chris . Well, the mhra will apply the same filter to this that they would apply to any kind of drug or medicine. And when june apply to any kind of drug or medicine. And whenjune rein, who leads the mhra, was asked this question at a number of recent press briefings, she was emphatic about the fact they didnt start doing this this week. Theyve been reviewing these things as the data has been emerging. She started this process back in june. Has been emerging. She started this process back injune. The appraisal process back injune. The appraisal process has been going on, hiding in the background, while the data has been generated, so that when the final piece of information, the results of the phase three trial we re results of the phase three trial were made available, they were able to act quickly and decisively. At the safety, they say, has not been skimped in the process. Just to pick up skimped in the process. Just to pick up on that, did they, for example, did they test as many people as would usually happen in a longer period of vaccination trial . Did they trial all areas of society . I know for example that pregnant women and children werent part of this trial. This trial is an international trial. There were tens of thousands of people included within it. One group of people, about half of the people, wouldnt of had the vaccine. We now 30,000 people will have had the vaccine. We have never been in the position where we have looked at a new vaccine in quite the same way we are looking at this vaccine or vaccines against covid. This is a new disease. The trials have been done against by different people using the randomised techniques, because thatis the randomised techniques, because that is how you can tell whether there is an impact. It has been done across the age ranges. The side effects have been very small. I think we can be assured that the trial is robust. I suppose the question was, have they tested the same number as they would have done over a longer period of time . You have seen vaccines take ten years to be approved. Yes, i think we can assume they will have done. Otherwise when the mhra looked at that they might just have otherwise when the mhra looked at that they mightjust have said to pfizer, you havent got enough people here, the result is not strong enough, go back and do some more. We have heard about continuing work going on in vaccines being produced. For example, oxford astrazeneca, they are doing more work amongst all the people following the result that they found giving the half dose and then the full dose, which was the finding when they did their trial. We are continuing to learn the science. We can be sure the mhra will have used standardised criteria. They have also asked the National Safety body and medicines to look at this independently. It has been thoroughly scrutinised. They started looking injuly, thoroughly scrutinised. They started looking in july, and thoroughly scrutinised. They started looking injuly, and they used a rolling programme, which means they didntjust review rolling programme, which means they didnt just review in rolling programme, which means they didntjust review in the last couple of weeks. They started looking at a different stages as they looked at how the vaccine was made, what the science was behind it, how the trials were carried out, whether robust in how they were organised, and what were the side effects . They looked at all of that and then they reached their judgment. Chris, can you pick up on the next question. This is an example of how the simple questions are the often the best ones. Seth would like to know, when are you protected and how long are you immune for . I thought you were going to ask me the price of a pint of milk also a killer question back in the day. The a nswer to killer question back in the day. The answer to this is we dont know what the really long term protection is, because obviously nobody has a time machine. We have only known about the virus for ten months. We have had vaccines for a matter of months. The trials have only been going on since the summer. We dont know what the long term immunity is going to be. But what we do know is that in the short term, so in other words, you have the vaccine, you start to mountan immune you have the vaccine, you start to mount an immune response, you then boost three to four weeks later, some regiments require four weeks, some regiments require four weeks, some three, and the idea is that you basically re stimulate the immune response you have created and then consolidated. It is like tamping it down and making sure you have got a robust response. The trial data we have seen was based on people who did ordidnt have seen was based on people who did or didnt catch the virus in that immediate aftermath of the second vaccination. What we dont know is, if we follow them for a period of time, how long they will remain protected for. What we do know is that the level of antibody that that vaccine has produced is ordnance of magnitude. So hundreds to come in some cases, thousands of times higher to the amount of antibody a person who had caught coronavirus would have. That should translate into robust immunity for an appreciable length of time. That is speculation on my part, because we dont know, because we dont have a time machine. But with follow up we will learn. By this Time Next Year we will be able to look back on the people who have been vaccinated, will almost certainly have been re exposed to the virus, having caught it, and we will have a clearer idea if we have to re vaccinate people to remind their immune system how to fight this off. If someone has had the two doses so they are protected, are there a risk in terms of passing on coronavirus still to someone who hasnt had the vaccine . Well, we know that there is more work to be done, as chris has said. The answer about transmissibility, the phrase used for passing on the disease even though you yourself are protected, that transmission is not yet fully understood, because obviously we havent given that you vaccine to people and followed them up for long enough. Again, just to reemphasise, the vaccine itself is safe for the individual having it. Whether or not it helps to protect the population, which is what you aim to do by stopping the transmission of and passing the disease on, we still dont know. At the vaccine and the people who have had it would be thoroughly researched over time. As the data comes in, as the learning comes in, we will begin to answer some of these questions. This leads on very nicely tojennys question. Chris, you alluded to this. The effects of this vaccine will be monitored in the coming years. Jenny has asked, what does 95 effective mean . What about the remaining 5 . Well, these are of course Clinical Trials. When you are in a Clinical Trials. When you are in a Clinical Trial you are very fiercely monitored. Therefore, you have a difference between what happens to people in Clinical Trials and what happens under real world circumstances. Clinical trials are when everything is the Gold Standard as best it can be. So 95 is what happens with everything going smoothly. So we might expect the number in the real world to be a little bit lower than this. But what it really translates into is you do a big trial where you recruit tens of thousands of people, and you divide them into two groups. And one group is your control group. They get in some cases a placebo, a dummy drug, and in other cases they will get a vaccine that was nothing to do with coronavirus. Then you have the intervention group. They are the people to get the vaccine for real. No one knows what theyve had and none of the people running the trial know what they have given to the people who are in the trial. This is called double blinding. It means there is no bias. It means you can very fairly, without influence, actually appraise whats going on. You follow people up for a period of time and then you look periodically to see which of those two groups has infections in it and how many. And if lets say 100 people catch the virus, then if you compare how many there are in each group, that is the effectiveness ratio. So if 90 , 90 out of your 100 infections occur in the group with the dummy vaccine, compared with only ten in the group that got the real deal, proper vaccine, that is a 90 efficacy of the vaccine. But when it goes out into the real world, goes into the clinic and so on, you are talking about clinical effectiveness. It will be lower because we know that when things are out there in the real world they are not in the pristine conditions of a trial, so 90 is an upper limit, or 95 in the case of pfizer, for how effective it will be. It is a reasonable ball park of how we expect the performance of the level of protection to be in the immediate aftermath of being vaccinated. We know that the Pfizer Vaccine has been given approval. There are several others in the pipeline. I guess we are fast forwarding a little bit. Rachel would like to know, if more than one vaccine is approved, can we choose which one we get . If there is a number, do we have a choice . I would suggest we are fast forwarding to ask that question, because at the moment the vaccine that we have available needs to be capped at very cold temperatures. And because it needs to be capped at very cold temperatures it can only be distributed from certain points. We are waiting to find out whether the Pfizer Vaccine can be broken into smaller packets of doses. So it could be sent out to care homes. So when you have got this many constraints cold temperature, size of the pack, all of these issues it would suggest if you went your gp and asked for the Pfizer Vaccine at the moment the answer would be, you cant choose in way. Maybe down the track when we understand more, that may be a choice. At the moment i think we are very lucky to be able to get the Pfizer Vaccine out, particularly to vulnerable groups. It is the only license vaccine at the moment. And we have to wait, as you say, for the fast forward to see how many other vaccines. I suspect there wont be a huge amount of choice because it will depend on where you are, your circumstances and a whole host of other criteria, such as level of supply, distribution etc. So at the moment i would advise people to take the vaccine they are offered. Didnt we do that dont we do that already with other vaccines . No, no go. I dont think we do. We usually take the vaccine we are offered. Every year for your flu vaccine, the flu vaccine every year is reproduced with slightly different strains because we need to have the most appropriate antibodies and there is appropriate antibodies and there is a whole range you could have. So basically, i think we trust the professionals. I think on this one it will be the same case. We will trust the professionals. We dont have the disease is going to play out. I think jonathan have the disease is going to play out. I thinkJonathan Van Tam yesterday said he thought of coronavirus was with us, it wasnt going to go away. It may be like the flu. It may be that you need a job or every year. It may not be, as chris was saying earlier, the immunity may last over a longer period. All of these are questions we dont yet understand. But i think in generalwe take we dont yet understand. But i think in general we take the vaccine we are offered because the scientists have done all the background work and what is the most effective vaccine that should be offered to us in ourage Group Vaccine that should be offered to us in our age group etc. Good catching up in our age group etc. Good catching up with both of you, as always. Chris, can i just up with both of you, as always. Chris, can ijust ask . Were you able for a moment yesterday morning to set the signs to one side and be happy, just to have that moment. . What are you saying . professor van tam said he was emotional when he heard about it. Did you feel that way as well . Yes, i was emotional when i saw way as well . Yes, i was emotional when i sanonathan van tam we let another analogy yesterday and described the vaccine is not like a yoghurt. I find that very reassuring that we wont be shooting people up with yoghurt its a great triumph of science. We have gone from a stage where we didnt know this virus existed, it was circulating but we didnt know about its existence. We did not by the beginning of the year. It has wreaked havoc in 2020. Many people did what you do when you call the plumber and ask him to look at your boiler. They have a sharp intake of breath, scratch their chain and is called a number from the sky. Lots of virologists thought we wouldnt be able to get a vaccine before christmas because it is tough to do this. It has been done. There is still a big hill to climb because we have to get it into people. But it isa have to get it into people. But it is a wonderful thing. This is the Christmas Present everybody wanted. Absolutely. Thank you very much. Always good to talk to you. We will speak again. Thank you both. Time now to get the news, travel and weather where you are. Good morning. Im sonja jessup. The rise in covid cases in basildon in essex has been described as a really grave situation by the local Council Leader, who is calling for schools to break up early for christmas. The county is in tier 2 but basildons case rate is among the highest in england, and almost half of cases are thought to be related to schools. As some football fans are allowed back in to stadiums. Labour are calling on the government to set out plans to keep supporters safe when they travel on public transport. West ham are one of five premier league clubs wholl welcome back up to 2,000 fans this weekend. The department for transport says there is clear advice on travel, and its working closely with transport bosses. If its live music youve been missing during the pandemic, steps have been talking to bbc london about how theyre going to play the 02 next year. The band was supposed to perform there this week, but the tour was cancelled. Theyre hoping to stage a series of gigs next november to promote their sixth studio album. We will be here this Time Next Year, almost to the day. We are sat where we will have the stage. Hopefully we will. We are obviously keeping our fingers crossed that by november, December Next year, we can go ahead with the tour. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. Still all good on the tube this morning. Most lines running as normal just the ongoing closure of the waterloo and city line. Its the usual picture as you can see at the blackwall tunnel northbound. Traffic slow from the woolwich rd flyover. A couple of problems on the m25. Firstly, there are anticlockwise delays towards junction 23 for the mm south mimms. A broken down crane is blocking a lane. And queues to junction 25 for enfield. And theres been an accident near the dartford interchange junction 1b. Clockwise traffic is slow heading towards the dartford tunnels. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Good morning. A chilly start with temperatures widely above zero, so it should be frost free. We have got outbreaks of rain and these will continue through much of the day. Largely light and patchy, but you might get one or two heavy bursts mixed in. Quite a blustery day as the rain moves through. The temperature feeling cold between five and seven celsius. 0vernight tonight, the rain will start to move north, and we will have a brief spell where it should be dry and largely clear, but then the next band of rain arrives in the early hours of tomorrow, and that meets some cold air so potentially that could turn a little bit wintry and we might get a bit of wet snow and sleet as we head into tomorrow. The minimum temperature between two and four celsius. For tomorrow, some wet snow potentially in the morning, and maybe a slushy covering over the chilterns, but it will clear northwards and the weekend stays cold. Well, theres more from me in an hour. Now its back to charlie and naga. Bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast with Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty. The first doses of the Pfizer Biontech Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in britain within hours. A Mass Vaccination Programme will Begin Next Week after the uk became the first country in the world to approve the jab yesterday. But the Prime Minister warned it did not mean our struggle is over and said there would be immense logistical challenges in distributing the vaccine. Students sitting gcse and a level exams in england next year will be awarded more generous grades to compensate for the disruption to their schooling during the pandemic. Measures will also be put in place to help students that miss exams because of self isolation. Head teachers unions have broadly welcomed the governments plan, but labour said more help was needed for pupils in areas worst hit by covid restrictions. Students heading back to university in england after christmas face a staggered return to avoid a surge in coronavirus cases. Plans drawn up by the government will see those on more practical courses such as science or medicine going back in earlyjanuary, while those studying subjects like english, history and maths may have to wait until february. The announcement comes as a seven day travel window opens today to allow students to return home for the christmas break. This summer saw major disruption to exams, but now we know gcse and a levels will go ahead in england next year but with some big changes. Grades will be more generous than normal. This will be in line with results from summer 2020, so that this years cohort is not disadvantaged. Advance warning of some topics will be given, but not the questions. Some study aids will be allowed. This could be a formula sheet or a vocabulary list provided in some exams to cut down on the memorising required. And some special measures will be used to work out grades if an exam is missed due to illness or self isolation. Joining us now from westminster is the education secretary, gavin williamson. Good morning to you. Thank you for your time. A pleasure, good morning to you. So, why the decision for england that exams are going ahead . We believe that exams and having children sit some form of assessment is the best way of awarding grades and if you look around the world as to the best performing Education Systems, whether it is singapore, germany, finland, theyve all made that same decision and we believe that same decision and we believe that we can run exams successfully and well, as im sure youre aware. 0ver and well, as im sure youre aware. Over the last few weeks, even during a National Lockdown we have been running a full series of gcses and a levels assessments where tens of thousands of students have sat their exams and done so safely and securely and have done so in a successful manner, so if we are able to do that during a National Lockdown i have every confidence we will be able to do that in the summer of next year as well. Why have you come to this decision in scotla nd have you come to this decision in scotland and wales happen . The welsh Education Minister said that it is impossible to guarantee a level Playing Field for exams because of the ongoing impact of the covid pandemic, so why do you think thats not the case . As i touched upon, countries such as germany, singapore and finland have all been affected by the pandemic but they equally reached the same decision as we have. To be fair, they are a lot further away than ireland and scotland, so close to home, why are we so different to our neighbours . As we see in terms of high performing Education Systems, the best form of assessment is exams and as ive touched upon, weve seen tens of thousands of students over the last few weeks even during a National Lockdown have the opportunity and successfully be able to ta ke opportunity and successfully be able to take those exams in a safe manner, so if were able to do that during a National Lockdown i have every confidence we will be able to do it in the summer of next year. We do it in the summer of next year. We do recognise that students are facing have had an incredibly difficult year, and i know as a father of a 16 year old who is taking gcses this year who has been ina taking gcses this year who has been in a situation where she has had to self isolate as well as her friends that we have to take extra measures and extra steps to make sure that there is as much fairness for them and that is why, and i realise there is criticism out there that we arent being too generous and we are giving too much information in advance are being too generous. I believe its the right thing to do to make sure that students who are facing these exams have a fair process and that we do everything we can to ensure that they are able to succeed and do very well. I speak as an education secretary but also as a father as well. I wish your daughter and herfriends father as well. I wish your daughter and her friends all the father as well. I wish your daughter and herfriends all the best, but i genuinely dont understand why the education secretary in charge of education in england has such a different attitude to whether exams should be cancelled or not to the Education Minister in wales. 0ver the border, part of the four nations in scotland, why is it so different . Why are we divided on this . The best form of assessment, and it is recognised in every study that has been conducted in terms of whether you have Teacher Assessment or examination is, what is always shown is that by running examinations that children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and children from black and ethnic minority communities are given the best advantage by sitting examinations. Please let me interrupt because i want to pick up on your point. I will extrapolate from that point that those children in wales and scotland will be more disadvantaged because they are not having exams. Every study that has been carried out has found where it has looked at this, that the predicted grades of the most disadvantaged children from the poorest background, so we do believe that exam assessment is the best form, but we equally recognise we will have to take extraordinary measures to support children as they ta ke measures to support children as they take their gcses, as they take their a levels and do their vocational qualifications and that is why we have put a package of measures together, and its notjust what we have announced today, its the fact we are moving exams back by three weeks, so children get extra time in the classroom and the fact that we are changing the way we will do some of those exams, removing the oral element, the study of languages, so that children are able to focus their studies, removing some of the practical elements within science assessments in order to ensure that stu d e nts assessments in order to ensure that students are in the best possible position to be ready for those exams. These are measures that we would not ever usually be expecting to take. We wouldnt usually be expecting to have this level of generosity and the grading system as well, but the measures we think are right, if im going to get criticised for making sure that we put extra fairness in the system for stu d e nts put extra fairness in the system for students facing exams this year, i think thats a criticism that i will ta ke think thats a criticism that i will take on the chin. Will all students be marked up . We are setting out with the exams regulator as to how that grading is going to be done and we are going to see the pattern of exa m we are going to see the pattern of exam grading that we saw in 2020 replicated in 2021 on an average basis, so we will be seeing a similar greed profile, so that will see a significant change in increase in the number of a grades in a levels or nine, eight, seven, or sixes in gcses compared to 2019. So will students be marked up . You will see there will be more generous grade boundaries. So you will see stu d e nts grade boundaries. So you will see students performing better than the cohort in 2019, yes. So im taking from that that all students will be marked up. Well all students be marked up. Well all students be marked up, say the subject is english, will every student in england be marked up by the same percentage . As you will be aware, you have grade boundaries that are established, so depending on how that child does in their exam and what they achieve in their exam, that will determine the grade. But obviously the grade boundaries are more generous and therefore they will be lower. The reason i am asking this, and you will be aware when we looked at the exam results over the summer and i will make sure i get this correct, that the proportion of private school stu d e nts proportion of private School Students receiving a grades was more than twice as high as the proportion at comprehensive schools. The reason iam asking at comprehensive schools. The reason i am asking with all children will be marked up and if all children in a certain subject will be marked up by the same percentage is, can you guarantee that if you are a student ina guarantee that if you are a student in a comprehensive school, you may bea in a comprehensive school, you may be a disadvantaged area, that you will be treated as fairly in terms of marking up as a student in an advantaged area in a private school . Yes, of course, because this will be based on exams, its not going to be based on exams, its not going to be based on exams, its not going to be based on Teacher Assessment. Its going to be based on the achievements of that child and you will see grade inflation over 2019, substantial grade inflation, but we think that is the right thing to do and you will see students right across the country in state schools benefiting from that. So you are guaranteeing that but there will be in some cases, and i think its Something Like 22 of teaching time that has been missed and absenteeism for obvious reasons because of the pandemic and family concerns and illness, there will be a point that if stu d e nts illness, there will be a point that if students cannot attend exams because of covid that it will fall to Teacher Assessment. Can you guarantee the system will be fair compared to comprehensive and private schools . What we have done this is we took the measure to give advanced notice as to what they will be tested on in terms of the exams, so children will be able to focus down their revision on areas that will really matter and make a difference, but teachers still have the ability to teach the full curriculum, but this is why we are going to be having contingency papers because there will be some children who will be in a situation where they may be having to self isolate or have covid and that means we will not be able to have them take the initial exams but they will immediately after they come out of isolation take those contingency papers and be in a position to sit their exams and get the grades when eve ryo ne their exams and get the grades when everyone else also gets those great. How will that work if you are in a classroom of 30 . Your peers sit the exa m classroom of 30 . Your peers sit the exam on friday that you werent able to attend because you have covid in two weeks later you come back and you have spoken to your fellow pupils about exams and they will be com pletely pupils about exams and they will be completely different exams . They will be completely different exams so we wouldnt be asking the same questions in the contingency papers as we would in the initial papers. But it would still be there because it is considered the same assessment . It would still be fair. It will be on the same topic areas and exam boards, as you know, have contingency papers in case there is an exposure of those exams but they are done to the same standard and that is why the exams regulator has been working really closely with the exam boards to make sure that people who are taking the contingency papers receive no advantage or disadvantage to those children who have been taking the papers earlier. Its going to be really important and its an opportunity to thank teachers and schools who have been doing so much to make sure children are back in school and learning and having the opportunity to learn, but also the work that the exam board is taking. We are going to be recruiting, if i can take the opportunity to encourage people, who are teachers or who have retired from the teaching profession to come forward because we are wanting to recruit many, because we are wanting to recruit any because we are wanting to recruit many, many extra exam invigilators and many extra exam markers. Im sure thats being done. We had news on the vaccine yesterday and a brief a nswer on the vaccine yesterday and a brief answer if you could, just some words of reassurance from the ministers perhaps to those care home workers and those in care homes who were told that they should be at the top of the list when it comes to vaccinations. We know the practicalities of this vaccination, the storage, means that wont necessarily be the case. Can you give any words of assurance to those who are hoping to see relatives that they have not seen in the past month, to be able to touch them, the most vulnerable in these care homes . We are also grateful for the amazing work that care workers have been doing in care homes and they are a priority on making sure they get a vaccine and that programme has already been set out by government andi already been set out by government and i know the department of health is working very closely with the ca re is working very closely with the care home sector to make sure they get those vaccines in order to support them in the amazing work they are doing. I know my aunt, who is well into her 90s, and recently suffered from covid got amazing support and help from her care workers in her care home and they really have been the silent heroes, and it is right they are being prioritised for the vaccine. Gavin williamson, thank you forjoining us. Mike is on standby for the sport. So we have football with fans in the stadium. How about that . Ive never been so excited to see football updates from places like charlton and Wycombe Wanderers to hear the updates and the sound of the real crowd behind the commentator, and that reporter sounding so much more excited and animated. It makes such a difference to them. Even the referees are getting stick again and referees reportedly giving a wry smile. It makes such a difference. Across england last night, the life and soul of football returned. At shrewsbury in league one, fans sat in their household bubbles, and socially distanced from others. The 2,000 fans were also all Wearing Masks, as they watched the 2 2 draw, with accrington stanley. That was one of six games in the efl where supporters could be in the stadiums, because they are located in tier one or tier two. And if we needed a reminder of how important fans are, it came at luton town, where 1000 fans saw their side send championship leaders norwich to their first defeat in 11 games. The norwich boss daniel farke suggested you guessed it that the fans might have influenced the referee. Things really are edging back to normal. Still no fans at old trafford with Greater Manchester in tier three, and united could have done with the support as they lost to Paris Saint Germain in the champions league. Neymar got two goals in a 3 1win for the french side, Manchester United also had midfielder fred sent off. They will still qualify for the last 16 if they avoid defeat against rb leipzig in theirfinal group game. Champion jockey 0isin, murphy has spoken for the First Time Since being banned for testing positive for cocaine. Hes serving a three month ban, and says that investigators had accepted that he hadnt taken the drug. In an exclusive interview, the irishman admitted his reputation had been damaged. This is going to go down on my cv and no one will forget about this overnight. I have projected myself asa overnight. I have projected myself as a good ambassador for the sport but clearly a good ambassador for the sport doesnt fail a drugs test, no matter how minimal that quantity is. Finally this is normally the scene, at the p. D. C world darts fancy dress is a huge part of the event, but not this year. Who is he dressed out at the front . Is it something to do with back to the future. 0h, is it something to do with back to the future. Oh, i is it something to do with back to the future. 0h, ithink it is it something to do with back to the future. Oh, i think it somebody from a food chain. Up to a thousand fans will be allowed to attend each session, of the tournament, taking place from december 15th at Alexandra Palace in london. 0nly fans from tiers 1 and 2 can attend, and they will also be banned from singing or chanting. But the saving grace, those fans, they might not be able to dress up as chickens, but they can wear christmas jumpers. If i as chickens, but they can wear christmasjumpers. If i look on as chickens, but they can wear christmas jumpers. If i look on the government website will it say that fa ncy dress government website will it say that fancy dress is banned . This is the interpretation by the darts association, so they have gone for no fans in fancy dress but they have allowed christmas jumpers. No fans in fancy dress but they have allowed christmasjumpers. They no fans in fancy dress but they have allowed christmas jumpers. They will go for the christmas jumpers and a big way. The biggest, loudest, noisiest christmas jumpers. We look forward to seeing those. At least the fans can get back in. Good to hear, isnt it. Thanks, mike. If you are going anywhere outside, you could be nippy. Heres carol with the weather. Asa as a cold start of the day and you can see a weather watcher can see a weather as a cold start of the day and you can see a weather watcher sent in a picture of the snow falling overnight in perth and kinross, and we have snow in other parts of the country, lying snow in parts of yorkshire, northern and western scotla nd yorkshire, northern and western scotland but most of it is on the Higher Ground and the other hazard to watch out for this morning across Northern Ireland and Northern England and scotland is ice on untreated surfaces. This is what has happened in the last few hours. We had a lot of snow as you can see and most of it on the hills but some of it has got to lower levels and with all the rain piling and wales, so through the course of the day the rain will continue to push north and east with brisk winds through the English Channel and south coast and as it pushes north you will see hill snow across parts of the midlands and Northern England. For scotland and Northern England. For scotland and Northern Ireland you will see a return to sunshine and showers and most of the showers will be in the north and west and some of the heavier ones could be wintry. In fa ct heavier ones could be wintry. In fact with any of the showers you could find thunder and see some hail and as charlie alluded to, it will feel cold. These are the maximum temperatures, only around two in aberdeen. Through the evening and overnight the band of rain that has been pushing north and east moves up the north sea and pivots back across eastern scotland and also north east england. 0n the coast it will be raining and inland we will see some snow, mostly on the hills but some of it will get to lower levels and if you look at the heavier rain on the south eastern corner, on the western flank we will see some snow and it very much depends on the position of it where you will see the snow but at the moment we think there could be slushy accumulations by the time you get to the morning. These are the overnight lows and it will be another cold night in parts of scotla nd will be another cold night in parts of scotland the temperature could fall to 5 or six and here there is a risk of ice, as there is across Northern England. That takes us into tomorrow with low pressure dominating the weather and we have these two systems producing rain and initially some will produce transient snow. We start with the rain in eastern scotland as well as the snow ahead of it and as that pushes west we find increasingly it will turn back to heavier bouts of rain. Meanwhile, in the south, things dry up and there will be showers and some wintry notes on the hills but where ever you are, you will feel cold and strong winds will come back across the west of scotla nd come back across the west of scotland and the irish sea, touching gale force at times and there will bea gale force at times and there will be a significant winchell and at best these will be the temperatures. Significant wind chill. But what you could do is step inside a lovely theatre because you can now. They are just starting to allow people into theatres, all the special measures in place in england we are talking about and of course this is only four venues into your one or tier 2. Tonight sees the premiere of the play love letters, at londons Theatre Royal haymarket in the west end, which will be one of the first to welcome back socially distanced audiences. Joining us now are actors martin shaw and Jenny Seagrove who are the starring in the production. Good morning to both of you. Good morning. Hello, jenny, can you kick us off. How does it work in terms of the audience and what is it like for you as an actor, getting out there, being on stage and seeing some people . It is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. We had a little run at windsor where the theatre was com pletely windsor where the theatre was completely socially distant and i was so emotional. It was amazing. I know that the Theatre Royal have been to windsor and saw what protocols were in place and it is beyond safe, it really is. And it is so exciting because it means we are starting to come back, notjust actors and performers and directors, but the make up girls, the hair girls, the costume guys, im saying girls, the costume guys, im saying girls, guys, i mean people. The technicians, the sound, everyone whos been sitting there for however many months which feels like a lifetime and we are starting to come back, so it is beyond exciting. Martin, in the theatre things are tangible, and martin, in the theatre things are tangible, and i suspect that when you start your new production, love letters, you will probably get a tangible sense of that audience being happy to be in the room. Very much so. Doing film and tv is great, but theatre is an event. And it is a participation, it is a group thing, so we do our stuff in the audience do their stuff and especially in that theatre. Everybodys favourite theatre, especially mine, this is my third time there and it has such a wonderful atmosphere. Third time there and it has such a wonderfulatmosphere. Oscarwilde stood on the stage there on the Opening Night in 1896, and we revived it again in 1996, so, it is shaking with atmosphere and the spirits of giants. It is a beautiful place. And you get to do it with jenny, who have worked with cou ntless jenny, who have worked with countless times before. It must be like slipping into a certain routine. Do you have like a secret thing that is just between you two that you know when you are about to say a line or rehearsing or something that is just your thing . Say a line or rehearsing or something that isjust your thing . cant tell you, its a secret. No, weve known each other for a while, about 25 years and we both know Bill Kenwright who has been my maid for 40 years, and then we had six years working together on tv every day and we get on very well. Jenny, what is the appeal of working with martin . It is called trust. Acting is reacting. You dont want to go all technical, but its a bit like a game of tennis, you hit the ball at someone and that you watch them closely to see where they will hit it back and you dont always know, but you know that they are in the game with you and if they are in the game with you and if they are in the game with you and if they are in the game with you and they are alive, that as long as you are alive you are going to have a good game of tennis. Thats the best i can do. It is about living the moment, knowing that the other actor is there for you and you are there for them and playing the game together and getting it right for the audience and of course there is a great friendship and love, but also he is a wonderful actor and with a wonderful actor you know you will get the best and the audience knows as well so everybody feels safe, and you can fly. There you go, martin, isnt that nice to hear on a thursday morning. What a lovely thing to hearfrom thursday morning. What a lovely thing to hear from your old friend. Cani thing to hear from your old friend. Can ijust thing to hear from your old friend. Can i just say, thing to hear from your old friend. Can ijust say, talk us through some of the mechanics. And some of the emotions, because you know each other well, weve established that and in normal times you would do a performance, i guess, and it might it would be going down well and there would be a hug afterwards and everybody said, you did well, and im assuming that all of that in terms of the Production Team, various things are ruled out. How does it work in practice . Its not that different, really. The Production Team are Wearing Masks, the audience are Wearing Masks, i think, arent they, jenny . We move around the theatre in masks and we ta ke around the theatre in masks and we take them off when we are on stage. Officially we dont walk on wearing a mask. Thats about it. officially we dont walk on wearing a mask. Thats about it. I cant see the audience very well because they are wearing the mask and im wearing my glasses on stage on them lights reflect but you have a mask on the moment you walk in the theatre, really and you walk around there and we take them off when we walk on stage. Thats the only difference, really. It is quite a big difference, actually, but its not too much of a problem. But everything back stage is cleaned, and you are right, there is no hugging, which i miss hugely, i really do, but what is fascinating about the audience is that they are Wearing Masks but at windsor you didnt really feel there were that many didnt really feel there were that ma ny less didnt really feel there were that many less people, you didnt feel there were masks because they were laughing. Its a terribly funny show and then terribly moving so you could hear the laughter in great gales and then you could hear the sniffles as people had tears falling down theirfaces, so its sniffles as people had tears falling down their faces, so its wonderful to be back. Your enthusiasm and everything shines through and those people in the audience will be so chuffed. To just be there, watching you doing your thing. So we wish you well and we hope it all goes well. Thank you very much for chatting to us. thank you very much for chatting to us. This morning. Good luck. Martin and jennys production is called love letters and is at the Theatre Royal haymarket. I love the idea of the relationship, tennis, and knowing that the other one is in the game. Headlines are coming up. Good morning. Welcome to breakfast with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. 0ur headlines today the first doses of a Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in britain within hours, after the uk became the first to approve the jab developed by pfizer and biontech. Well put your questions to englands deputy chief medical officer, professorJonathan Van Tam, at 8 30. Students taking gcse and a level exams in england next year will be marked more generously to make up for the disruption caused by the pandemic. Good morning, today is a cold day ahead and for scotland and Northern Ireland, the risk of ice first thing, then sunshine and showers, shower is mostly in the north and west, but still wintry in the hills. England and wales, rain and showers and some of those between the hills as well. The details in ten minutes. Its thursday, the 3rd of december. Our top story. The first doses of the Pfizer Biontech Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in britain within hours. A Mass Vaccination Programme will Begin Next Week after the uk became the first country in the world to approve the jab yesterday. In the world to approve andy moore has the details. In the world to approve the uk has become the first country in the western world to authorise the use of a vaccine. At a press conference, Vaccine Development was once again compared to a train coming down the track. The train has now slowed down safely. It has now stopped in the station, and the doors have opened. That was the authorisation by the mhra. What we need now is for people to get on that train and travel safely to their destinations. The Prime Minister called it a huge moment, but he also urged caution. Its all the more vital that, as we celebrate this scientific achievement, were not carried away with over optimism, or fall into the naive belief that the struggle is over. Its not. Weve got to stick to our winter plan. 800,000 doses of the vaccine are due to arrive in the uk shortly. They have to be kept at very low temperatures, so distribution at first will be through major hospitals. That means that care home residents, although top of the governments priority list, are unlikely to get the vaccine first. The uk regulator said the process of authorisation had been rapid, but no less thorough. No corners have been cut. Our expert scientists and clinicians have worked round the clock, carefully, methodically, poring over tables and analyses and graphs on every single piece of data. The vaccine roll out is due to happen across all four nations of the uk at the same pace. In Northern Ireland, officials have set aside a new Hospital Emergency Department as one of seven designated vaccination sites. In scotland, the first doses are expected to be given on tuesday. 0ther vaccines are also on the horizon. 0ne developed by Oxford University and astrazeneca is currently being reviewed by the uk regulator. Another, from the American Company moderna, is also being examined by regulators around the world. It will take months to roll out vaccines to everyone in the uk who wants one, but the process is set to begin very shortly. Andy moore, bbc news. Students sitting gcse and a level exams in england next year will be awarded more generous grades to compensate for the disruption to schooling during the pandemic. Pupils will get advanced notice of exam topics and be allowed to use memory aids. Measures will also be put in place to help students who miss exams because of self isolation. Heres more from our education editor, bra nwen jeffreys. Heading home to self isolate, year 11 at this secondary school. Just before it was confirmed, some shared their gcse fears with me. I have a lot of worries about gcses because i really feel like theres not much being done about the amount of time we missed. But im especially worried about english and maths because those are a must have for any sixth form. I prefer to be in school to learn. So, the disruption to that isjust going to really knock my focus off my education. So would narrowing down the topics in each subject help . I think that will be the most beneficial thing, one of the most beneficial things that they can do, because it really like, gives you that tiny bit of hope that we need at this time, just so then we get that little bit of help that we notice. I wish there was a bit more done, honestly. I feel like, obviously its going to help, but it might not be enough to really make everyone feel comfortable with what theyre doing, because personally, im not confident with what im doing, but i feel like it will help a little bit. How will gcse and a level exams work in 2021 . Grades will be more generous than normal, mainly in line with 2020. Advance warning of some topics will be given, but not the questions. Some study aids will be allowed. That could be a formula, or a vocabulary list. And special measures will be used to work out grades for an exam missed. After a term of covid disruption, this does give schools a bit more certainty. But theyre going to have to wait until january to find out what topics will be and which exam papers. And theres still one big unanswered question. How do you take account of the fact that some kids have missed so much more learning than others . So, an expert group will look at that bigger picture, but grades arent likely to be adjusted. And here, theyre worried about disruption after christmas. If we stick to the plan and the continued disruption across the country happens right through until, whether its march or april, i think youre going to have a massive impact on the well being of young people and families. And were going to see a very unfair system and probably a return to the debacle of last summer. Northern ireland also plans to hold exams, but in wales, theyve been cancelled. While scotland only plans to have exams for highers. Schools are still dealing with coronavirus. Faith in these plans will be tested in the next few months. Branwen jeffreys, bbc news, herne bay. Students heading back to university in england after christmas face a staggered return to avoid a surge in coronavirus cases, plans drawn up by the government will see those on more practical courses such as science or medicine going back in early january, while those studying subjects like english, history and maths may have to wait until february. The announcement comes as a seven day travel window opens today to allow students to return home for the christmas break. Pubs, bars and restaurants injersey are set to close from midnight in order to tackle a surge in covid cases. Takeaways and shops can stay open, but people must follow the two metre social distancing rule. The circuit brea ker measures are expected to remain in place until the 4th of january. 56 new cases were identified there yesterday, the biggest daily total recorded so far. Sainsburys will pay back around £440 million of Business Rates relief it accepted from the government to help deal with the pandemic. Yesterday, tesco said it would return more than half a billion pounds, and morrisons announced a £274 million repayment. The government introduced the 12 month Business Rates holiday in march, because it feared retailers would struggle during the covid crisis. Sending live animals abroad for slaughter will be banned in england and wales, under government plans announced today. The environment secretary, george eustice, says the measures could be in place by the end of 2021, but the National Farmers union warned that any big changes to regulations could have a massive impact on the uk food supply chain. Lets go back to one of our main stories injust a moment. John maguire reporting on care homes particularly and you will have read how the vaccines may be rolled out first in care homes, just waiting to hear more detail about that. And joining us at 8 30am and string some of your questions about all sorts of issues related to the pandemic is Jonathan Van Tam. A lot of you sending them on and keep them coming we will get as many to him as we can. Are you good at building snowmen . Yes, it is my speciality. What they look like . If there is enough snow, that is the question. You always go big, do you . Carroll . I have a snowman in my picture this morning, you can see him here. This fabulous picture were sentin him here. This fabulous picture were sent in this morning, you can see the snow in west lothian and livingston, and lying snow getting on across yorkshire as well. The met office does have warnings out for ice and snow early on particularly in the north, mostly in the hills, but the ice affecting scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England. You can see what has been happening during the night, the weight shows where we have had snow, most of it in the hills and some of it at low levels, we also have rain piling on across england and wales. That rain it will be moving steadily northwards and eastwards through the day, it will be heavy later across sussex and kent. Brisk winds through the English Channel. As it moves north and engages with the cold air, we see hell snow across the midlands and into Northern England. For scotla nd and into Northern England. For scotland and Northern Ireland, looking at sunshine and showers today. Through the day, most of the showers eventually become confined to the north and west, but some of those can be wintry in the heavy bursts. In any showers today, you can here fumble thunder and sea hailed. Wherever you are, it will feel cold. This evening and overnight, the band of rain whips up the north sea and moves inland across eastern scotland and north east england. 0n the coast, it would be rain and inland, some snow. Some of this gets down to lower levels, a lot in the hills. In the south, we have the remnants of the rain in the south east. 0n the western flank of that around the chilterns, we could also see slushy accumulations at lower levels first thing. The risk of ice in scotland and Northern England, another cold night. In fa ct, england, another cold night. In fact, temperatures in parts of scotla nd fact, temperatures in parts of scotland could fall as low as 5 or 6. 0k, beware of the frogs have a cup of tea, see you soon for those living and working in care homes, news that a Coronavirus Vaccine has been approved will have come as a huge relief, giving much needed hope to elderly residents and their families. But with it came a warning from the Prime Minister that there are immense logistical challenges in rolling out the programme, and it could be months before all Vulnerable People are protected. John maguire reports. Families with loved ones in care homes have been forced to endure some of the most heart rending experiences of the pandemic. For many people, yesterday was the first time visitors were allowed physical contact with their loved ones, following a negative result from a covid Rapid Testing kit. When the system was first trialled two weeks ago, simon raines was able to hold his mothers hands. Long wished for, they could touch once more. And now the vaccines approval means more good news. Wonderful news, and it gives that extra level of protection for mum, and the staff around her. People living in care homes for older adults and their carers are the highest priority, first in line to receive the newly approved Pfizer Biontech vaccine. After them, 80 year olds and older, along with front line health and social care workers, will be vaccinated next. Those people most at risk of becoming seriously unwell with coronavirus get the vaccine first. Obviously, from those individuals point of view, its important to protect those individuals and, more as a population, its about protecting the nhs because the worry throughout has been that the nhs is flooded with very unwell people with covid. That then has a knock on effect on the care the nhs is able to provide to everyone else. But it will be a major challenge to store and transport the Pfizer Vaccine safely, to ensure residents in the homes can receive the jabs. We need all the help and support we can get from families being understanding. Well keep our channels of communications open, we need to make sure that local authorities are happy in the way that this is all deployed. So, i think theres a road to walk, but we will walk that road because weve been through a very, very dark time. Because of the particular characteristics of the Pfizer Vaccine, we dont think were going to be able to safely take it to care homes. That means were going to have a smaller number of Vaccination Centres we need to bring people to. Now, in practical terms, some care home residents therefore will not be within the first few weeks of delivery of that vaccine. They are some of the most Vulnerable People in society, so cruelly targeted by covid, but effective testing and a successful Vaccination Programme should help to protect them and to enable families to be together properly for the first time in such a long time. John maguire, bbc news. Lets speak now to mark adams, whos the chief executive of the social care Charity Community integrated care, and anna selby, whos a director at Sunrise Senior Living care homes. Good morning to you both. Anna, will be talking toJonathan Van Tam in about 20 minutes, the deputy chief medical officer, and im keen to know what the atmosphere was like for you and know what the atmosphere was like foryou and in know what the atmosphere was like for you and in the care home when you heard about the vaccine yesterday, knowing that at some point care homes and their workers area point care homes and their workers are a priority to be vaccinated. Point care homes and their workers are a priority to be vaccinatedm was a landmark day for us yesterday. The sense we had was one of hope. We have spent the last nine months with people in very dark places as someone said previously, and people have made a lot of sacrifices to protect and support residents in ca re protect and support residents in care homes and now we feel like we are beginning to see the end it inside. Clearly there will have to be cautioned for some time yet and we dont quite know how the distribution will but we feel we have got the but we can see some light at the end of this dark tunnel. And we saw at the end of that film, the hoax from relatives to loved ones the hugs. How does it work in practice in your home is at the moment and how quickly can i change . We have been really fortu nate to change . We have been really fortunate to be able to use the lateral flow testing in some of our ca re lateral flow testing in some of our care homes already and have been supporting early adopting in some sites and the difference is amazing. It is just the touch of a hand which can make so much difference, visiting through a piece of glass is a wonderful thing if you have not seen somebody for a long time but to be able to physically touch your loved one and have that connection, the stories i have heard this week. Been truly moving. This is the next stage. I believe we need to continue to be very cautious until we know for sure into the spring how this will work but we are beginning to connect people again now and are different it is making to residents lives is a phenomenal. Mark, there isa lives is a phenomenal. Mark, there is a flip side to this in terms of pressure and what you are having to deal with and what Staff Members are having to deal with in terms of testing and increased visitors come in already restricted practices because of the pandemic. Yes, good morning. Obviously a fantastic clip to listen to and as always, highly emotional point of the sector has been crying out for both vast tests to allow us to try to reconnect loved ones on visits, and obviously we have been praying we would get a suitable vaccine as early as possible. I think with every government announcement that really isa government announcement that really is a need to read the small print because there is an awful lot of detail that is not explained to the public, or indeed to the sector. If you take a typical care home which might have 60 residents being supported during the day bike may be 21 or 23 fantastic front line care workers, they are under immense pressure, they are on their knees after the last nine months of what they have been through and yet earlier this week we were told that there is now an immediate expectation that we open doors and people start hugging their loved ones before christmas when 90 of ca re ones before christmas when 90 of care homes in the uk have not received lateral flow testing, a numberof received lateral flow testing, a number of councils are saying lateral flow testing is not safe with at least 20 of false positives and false negatives. No extra funding to put extra staff, no Clear Pathway to get people to the ppe they need when they come into the home so you have massively expanded expectations when a huge amount of the process is not mapped out or guidance given. We then have the announcement where the headline is that this fantastic vaccine from pfizer is going to be available and prioritised for care homes and care workers, which sounds as though the government has got its priority right for the first time in the last nine months. But that said, we know there is only initially a batch of million of the vaccines and, as the vaccine has to be given twice, there is only 500,000 people that will get it put it is being delivered through 50 hospitals who will be delivering it toa 50 hospitals who will be delivering it to a mixture of their own staff and over 80 it to a mixture of their own staff and over80 is it to a mixture of their own staff and over 80 is and care workers if they can get their. But i suspect they can get their. But i suspect the majority, the vast majority of ca re the majority, the vast majority of care home workers will not get the vaccine until next year and i would be very surprised if many people in ca re be very surprised if many people in care homes get it at all this year. Mark, in order we have enough time with anna as well, you have outlined some serious issues there and they will apply variously to different ca re will apply variously to different care homes. In your estimation, what other things you absolutely need to know now in order that you can prepare yourself for the Vaccination Programme . There is a lot we dont know about how it will be distributed. We are working really closely with our colleagues in primary care, for example in most of our communities. What we need to know is when it will be available, how it will be available and how we can support the administration of the vaccine to protect our residents. Mark has outlined there isa residents. Mark has outlined there is a lot we dont know but i think we need to be focused on the fact that we have got a vaccine that we know can work and we are looking to a brighterfuture know can work and we are looking to a Brighter Future next know can work and we are looking to a brighterfuture next year and know can work and we are looking to a Brighter Future next year and that is what we will look at, the longer term plan but we also need to maintain cautions and protect people and make sure we do not introduce any risk and continue with all of our ppe and Infection Control measures and the lateral flow testing beefed up by regular testing so we can keep people safe and get us through to the spring when hopefully we will get back to some kind of normality. I suggest we keep in touch with both of you because it will be an interesting next few weeks and months so thank you very much for that. It is 21 minutes past eight. This week on breakfast, weve been following the incredible Fundraising Efforts of the former Rugby League Star kevin sinfield. Kevins running seven marathons in seven days to support his friend and ex team mate, rob burrow, whos living with motor neurone disease. Three, two, one, lets go. Well, yesterday, kevin set off before dawn for his second marathon, alongside his support crew. Second marathon thats incredible. I think he did this in underfour hours hes been getting plenty of support on social media. Former England Rugby union player mark cueto called it an unreal effort. And he finished yesterday in just three hours and 38 minutes two minutes quicker than the day before. How can that be possible . I was speculating yesterday that by number six or seven he has to be more than four hours but i dont know. Kevins aim was to raise £77,777 for rob burrow and his family and the mnd association. Not only for research and awareness but to help families very, very similar to rob, but who are less fortunate, who dont have that rugby family behind them. And if we can make their life a little bit better and a little bit more comfortable, then its a really good thing to do and ijust want to salute everybody because, like i said, i know its been a tough year. Absolutely. Its no surprise kevin completed his second marathon in under four hours. He had Something Special to get home for. Im going to get some food in now. Ice bath later on and rest up. It is actually my wedding anniversary today so, unfortunately we cant go out because everywheres shut, but hopefully well have a nice meal later on. And we have proof kevin did have that ice bath. Heres a special message for bbc breakfast and all his supporters. Just a quick message before we set out on day three. Thank you to all at bbc breakfast. Once again, your support has been absolutely awesome. To all the viewers, thank you for your support and generosity, you have been amazing and we absolutely cant thank you enough. Yes, i am in an ice bath, trying to recover but actually, i dont see the point because im told we are expecting snow on thursday morning so, carol, please do your thing and be kind to us take care, everybody. I dont know if carroll can help looking at the forecast for today. The only thing i would say, i dont doubt kevin for a second he was in an ice bath but we didnt actually see the ice he wasnt. He was very calm for somebody in an ice bath. Hes used to it. And this is a man running seven marathons in seven days, he is not going to be fazed by an ice bath. Hes only two days into his week long challenge but hes already raised more than £270,000. Remember his target, you take that first number two off, 77,777. He is smashing it. 350 greater than his target. Will be following him all week and obviously your donations and generosity are spurring him on. It is bordering on absurd that he should run faster at the day after. He had to get back for his anniversary time to find out whats happening where you are. Good morning, im sonja jessup. The rise in covid cases in basildon in essex has been described as a really grave situation by the local Council Leader, who is calling for schools to break up early for christmas. The county is in tier 2 but basildons case rate is among the highest in england and almost half of cases are thought to be related to schools. As some football fans are allowed back in to stadiums, labour are calling on the government to set out plans to keep supporters safe when they travel on public transport. West ham are one of five premier league clubs wholl welcome back up to 2,000 fans this weekend. The department for transport says there is clear advice on travel and its working closely with transport bosses. If its live music youve been missing during the pandemic, steps have been talking to bbc london about how theyre going to play the 02 next year. The band was supposed to perform there this week but the tour was cancelled. Theyre hoping to stage a series of gigs next november to promote their sixth studio album. We will be here actually this Time Next Year, almost to the day. We are actually sat where we will have the stage, actually, this is the actual spot. Yeah. Hopefully we will. We are obviously keeping our fingers crossed that by november, December Next year we will be able to go ahead with the tour. Lets take a look at the travel situation now. Still all good on the tube this morning. Most lines running as normal, just the ongoing closure of the waterloo and city line. Theres been an accident on the south circular near catford bridge station. Its moving a little better than it was a moment ago. You can see the eastbound queues there, theyre back onto the stanstead road. A couple of problems on the m25. Firstly, there are anti clockwise delays towards junction 23 for the mm south mimms. A broken down crane is blocking a lane. Queues tojunction 25 for enfield. And there are clockwise delays towards the qe2 bridge after a breakdown, tailbacks towards junction 29 for the a127. Now the weather with kate kinsella. Than morning, a chilly start with temperatures widely above the zero so it should be frost free. But we do have some outbreaks of rain and these will continue through much of these will continue through much of the day. Largely light and patchy but you might get one or two more heavy bursts mixed in, and quite blustery as the rain moves through. Temperatures are feeling cold, 57 c. Temperatures are feeling cold, 5 7 c. Overnight, the rain moves away north, a brief spell where it should be dry and largely clear but then the next band of rain arrives in the early hours of tomorrow morning and that brings some cold airso it morning and that brings some cold air so it could turn a bit wintry. We might get a bit of wet snow and sleet heading into tomorrow but at minimum temperature of 2 4 c. Some wet snow potentially around in the morning tomorrow, you might get a slushy covering over the chilterns but it will clear and at the weekend is staying cold. Well, theres more from me in half an hour. Now its back to charlie and naga. Bye for now. Hello, this is breakfast, with Naga Munchetty. And Charlie Stayt straight after brea kfast on bbc one is morning live with kym marsh and gethinjones. Lets find out what they have coming up on the show. Thanks, naga. Thanks, charlie. 0n morning live today, with 50 hospital trusts primed to begin dishing out nearly a million vaccine doses next week, were asking how the country will cope. Dr xand is here and primed too. He looks ready, doesnt he . Hell be answering your questions about who gets the vaccine next week, and if youll get it at all. Grahams asking if hell have to take an Antibody Test before he gets the vaccine. Will they vaccinate people who have already had covid . Will they vaccinate people who have already had covid . He will be answering those questions. He looks like he knows what talking about. Speaking of medics, there are now over ten million gp appointments per month taking place away from the surgery. But with so many patients not getting face to face time with their doctor, are vital symptoms being missed . We find out how this new normal is affecting health in the west midlands. Anna haugh will be sharing her secrets to save us stress, money and time in the kitchen, and transforming a simple chicken into the ultimate christmas dinner. Isaid i said chicken, not turkey and keeping things thrifty weve got the finance expert telling us why we should steer clear of buying anyone gift cards this christmas and hes also got some tips on how to make money from your sofa plus, is leona the new mariah . Its been 15 years since she took the x factor by storm but, every year, she storms back up the festive charts with my favourite christmas song. Thats all straight after breakfast, at 9 15. Have a good one, guys, see you later. The time is exactly 8 30am. Weve been talking a lot about the pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine this morning. The deputy chief medical officerfor england, professor Jonathan Van Tam, is with us now to answer your questions. Professor, good morning to you. I am tempted to take a leaf out of your own book and say the train carrying Jonathan Van Tam has arrived at the bbc Breakfast Studio and is ready to a nswer bbc Breakfast Studio and is ready to answer your questions, what do you think about that . Yes indeed, i love metaphors, i think they bring complex stories to life for people, it is great. Good lets kick off. A number of questions for you and a lot of people wanting to know details right now. Gavin is asking why is the uk the first to approve this vaccine . Is it safe . Yes. 0k. Yes. Ok. So, we are the first to approve it because we have been really, really organised about this from the word go. I started focusing behind the scenes on getting vaccines and Vaccine Preparedness backin vaccines and Vaccine Preparedness back in march actually quite a bit before the vaccine taskforce, which has been absolutely brilliant was formed. And so this began with conversations with the government chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance. And from the word go, we have been on the front foot, being clear that we needed vaccines as soon as was safely and assuredly possible. And the mhra, our regulator, has just been superb possible. And the mhra, our regulator, hasjust been superb in this space. And taken unprecedented steps to see data early, and thats why we are where we are. The manufacturers, in turn, have moved at real pace. They havent had these stop at real pace. They havent had these sto p start at real pace. They havent had these stop start programmes where it is, lets get the result of the phase one trial, now lets have a major Investment Committee decision and decide if we are going to go ahead with the next phase, slightly larger studies. It has been a case of, yes, we can see what the goal is. We have to just keep we can see what the goal is. We have tojust keep going we can see what the goal is. We have to just keep going at maximum we can see what the goal is. We have tojust keep going at maximum pace. Lets recruit and get the patients, the volunteers who are prepared to ta ke the volunteers who are prepared to take part in a trial, lets get them signed up and a kind of list of volu nteers signed up and a kind of list of volunteers ready so the moment the trial commenced design and Ethics Committee is all approved, we have got people who can step straight in and we can begin within a few days. That is the kind of mentality that has got us to where we are. Good morning to you, and you wont be surprised gavin is asking, is it safe . H ow surprised gavin is asking, is it safe . How does it make you feel when the ema, we have so many medical authorities, regulatory authorities wanting to get the vaccine to their blocks or countries, when it says it has had the option of taking that same route that the mhra turk, but that its process is the appropriate regulatory mechanism for the use of the current pandemic emergency. When people see things like that, this is when they start asking questions, wires and why is nobody else doing it . Yes, i do understand that is one possible interpretation why us. If you are a regulator who is slightly further behind, what do you say to justify your position that you are further behind . Words such as the ones you have heard, perhaps. I actually dont expect other regulators, particularly the us regulator, to be very far behind with this vaccine. So i think this will all be solved in a matter of days, in the sense that i think other regulators are very close behind. On the theme of safety, which a lot of people are asking us about today, we are getting a lot of people asking if the vaccine is safe for people with pre existing conditions orfor for people with pre existing conditions or for those who have autoimmune diseases, what can you tell us about that . Yes, i can tell you quite a bit about that. The trials have involved people with chronic underlying conditions deliberately and they have involved people from very broad age ranges and really quite a lot of people in the elderly bracket. The reason for thatis the elderly bracket. The reason for that is that they do, as you get older can make you do get chronic conditions, you do get autoimmune conditions. And there is actually nothing, thejcbi have looked at this, there is no indication that there should be any difficulty in giving it to people with chronic underlying conditions. And indeed, you can see thejcbi has picked out not just by you can see thejcbi has picked out notjust by age, but people 18 to 65 without risk conditions. And that is going to be a deliberate purpose to giving people with at risk conditions the vaccine earlier than others will get it. And the reason for that is that they are at extremely high risk from coronavirus compared with the general population. We have had so many e mails this morning, lots of you is keen to get questions to you and many are asking if the vaccine is safe for pregnant women and it feeds into what you are saying about who has taken part in these trials. Yes, thank you, that is a question that has come up before. None of the childs deliberately included pregnant women. But there will a lwa ys pregnant women. But there will always have been, as there were in the trials that i am aware of, women who volunteered for the programme he then during their Vaccination Programme, as part of the child, became pregnant. And it is always the case that the manufacturers, the sponsors of the study, always follow those women who became pregnant during the study rigorously right to the end of the study. And they also followed the baby into its early yea rs of life. Followed the baby into its early years of life. So from that perspective, this is covered, but right now, do we have the data in pregnant women to understand the use of these vaccines in pregnant women . No, we dont. Does thejcbi suggest that pregnant women should be vaccinated . No, that pregnant women should be vaccinated . No, it that pregnant women should be vaccinated . No, it does not. And thatis vaccinated . No, it does not. And that is not a sign that thejcbi or me have seen some terrible problem. It isa me have seen some terrible problem. It is a definite sign that we dont have the data at this point. Therefore, safety first, always being cautious. Even though there may well be no problem at all. Nevertheless, always safety first. The same information, am i correct in saying children were not part of these trials either . Yes, thats right. 0ne these trials either . Yes, thats right. One of the companies, pfizer, in fact, have a few children, we dont know the numbers, in one of their trials down to 12 years of age. But i imagine those numbers are going to be small. And i dont imagine that anyone is going to say that at the moment, it is the right thing to do to authorise the vaccines for children. That again is not any absolutely not any kind of, oh, the safety signal here. Not at all. It is that we dont yet have the numbers. And the manufacturers, the numbers. And the manufacturers, the designers of these vaccines, they see the epidemiology of the disease, the same way as the Public Health experts do, and they see almost no serious illness and mortality in children compared with those older adults, compared with adults with chronic underlying conditions. And so, of course, it is obvious that the big take up, and the big need is in the elderly and those with risk conditions. So lets do the trials. Children will always have been a secondary target of the vaccines and several of the manufacturers are now saying, well, lets start to think about whether we do some trials in children. But that wasnt the primary target, that is just not where it started and it isnt where theyre needed. So i am quite comfortable right now that use in children would be on an absolutely exceptional basis, for very high risk children, and it would have to involve an individual decision by the doctor, specialist looking after the child and their pa rents looking after the child and their parents and so forth. General use, not at the moment. Can i check something with you in relation to who it is intended to get the vaccine in the long term . We will go on to the roll out immediately in a moment. Its a situation that every adult, every over 18 year old person should have the vaccine . Right now, thatis should have the vaccine . Right now, that is not as far as the thinking has gone. I would not rule that in or rule that out at this point. What thejcbi or rule that out at this point. What the jcbi have done or rule that out at this point. What thejcbi have done is they have laid out what they see as the priority for a phase one programme. And as i said at the number 10 press briefing yesterday evening, the fact that that group, that priority list sta rts that group, that priority list starts with older adults in care homes and then eventually gets down to adults 50 years of age and over is absolutely no accident because if you look at the signal of where suddenly the hospitalisations from covid 19 starts to kind of balloon upwards, it is from 50 years of age. And it is related to risk conditions, right down to 18 years of age, and it is very strongly age related. Now, if we can have a programme over time, and age related. Now, if we can have a programme overtime, and it age related. Now, if we can have a programme over time, and it will ta ke programme over time, and it will take time, to actually cover the groups that are on the phase one jcbi list, we will have dealt with, we hope, 99 of severe illness and Death Associated with covid 19. But thatis Death Associated with covid 19. But that is a great figure. It is almost like a headline figure. But by the same token, there are conditions attached to that. Number one condition is that the vaccine has to be very effective. Number two is that we have a very high uptake. Because again, back to a point i made yesterday. The vaccine cant protect you if you dont take it. So thatis protect you if you dont take it. So that is a really important point. will just say, you that is a really important point. willjust say, you said thejcbi. For anyone not quite sure what it is, that is thejoint committee on vaccination on vaccination and immunisation, which has been helping with the idea of who gets it and when. How many people will need to receive the vaccine, this reads on from charlies question. How many people will need to receive the vaccine before restrictions can be lifted . Now, vaccine before restrictions can be lifted . Now, this vaccine before restrictions can be lifted . Now, this is the question everybody wants the answer to yes, 0k, and everybody wants the answer to yes, 0k, and i cant give you that answer, i am 0k, and i cant give you that answer, iam not 0k, and i cant give you that answer, i am not going to fudge it, i dont tend to fudge things and i am not going to pretend that i know the answer to that. What we want the vaccine to do is to come in the first instance, stop people dying from covid 19. What we want the vaccine to do very next is to stop people being hospitalised with covid 19. They may not die, but they have spent several days in hospital and it is very unpleasant and it puts enormous pressure on the nhs, particularly as we get to a point where now december, january, february, huge winter pressure months for the nhs. So that is what we wa nt months for the nhs. So that is what we want most of all. And already with the astrazeneca vaccine, we are seeing, they tell me in the press release that they are seeing a signal that there are no hospitalisations in the group that received the astrazeneca vaccine. Right across all the Clinical Trials that make up their 26,000 volunteer dataset. So that is pretty encouraging. We have to see that play out. And if we can get to the point where the nhs is not put under immense pressure by covid 19, so that it cant do it so the jobs of general surgery, cancer care, all the things just as important for health, if we get to the point where the nhs is managing this in a much more normal way than at present, then that gives politicians the option to think about what can be done next to make life more normal for us. And it is not myjob to give you a magic number here or a kind of magic calendar date. Because so much depends upon how quickly the Vaccine Programme is rolled out, whether the people called forwards for vaccine accept it. Because let me be clear, the polls say that a very large majority of people will accept the vaccine when called for it, but if it turns out to be 10 , this vaccine, even if it is a perfect vaccine, even if it is a perfect vaccine, then it is not going to have any Public Health effect at population level because the uptake went be great enough. These are all factors that have to be fitted into the answer to your question. The other one is that we dont know at this point, we are hopeful, but we do not know and we need data to see that, that the vaccines will not only prevent illness, but will also prevent infection. Now, for the public, for some of your viewers, they will say, hold on, he is talking about illness and infection, what is the difference . Well, we do know that a lot of people who are infected with coronavirus dont get symptoms. So in my world, we call that they dont have the illness. But they are infected and they do spread the virus to us, which is why it is such a difficult, difficult virus to control. If we get to the point where we are confident these vaccines not only ta ke confident these vaccines not only take out the illness but the asymptomatic infections sufficiently to stop people spreading the virus when they dont even know theyve got it, that becomes a big game changer and a big win. And if we can get the science that says this is happening, i think that shows we have got vaccines that are really punching above their weight, and that makes it more likely that we can bring restrictions down. I did not say stop in all all in one go but maybe bring them down faster than we can any other way. I am very hopeful that these vaccines are, in the fullness of time, going to make a big impact in terms of returning life to as normal as possible. But i just think, this is a new disease, we have got to take it step by step and not make wild promises that we cannot keep, and actually be very grateful that we are a fortunate country that has at least one vaccine at our disposal. But we absolutely need more. vaccine at our disposal. But we absolutely need more. I think what we have established is that when you speak people do listen and you have been candid in the past about how you feel and what you know but can we get through a couple of quick questions . Jess says, when will other vaccines become available . We know there are some in the pipeline, it may be to be given the go ahead to soon but what can you tell us about that . Again, im going to be very circumspect about that. Because we have a position and im glad we have a position and i would not want it any other way where the mhra does its own thing. It looks at medicines, notjust vaccines but medicines, notjust vaccines but medicines, and decide independently if they satisfy the criteria on safety, on effectiveness, efficacy, and also on quality of manufacture. And it makes its own decision in its own time. Back to your earlier point where you set that the mhra appear to have moved faster than other regulatory bodies. We were com pletely regulatory bodies. We were completely in their hands. If they had decided they needed more data or more time to consider bits of data they already had, maybe wanted to raise further questions with the manufacturer and that had taken until mid february, then that is what we would have had to lift with because we cannot interfere with that process. Had to live with. We are in their hands but the astrazeneca vaccine, they have publicised their interim readout. That vaccine has started to submit data to the mhra, we have asked the mhra to begin the final process of assessment. I dont know how long thatis assessment. I dont know how long that is going to take, i am very hopeful that it will take a relatively short period but i will not be drawn on quite what that is because i dont want to put the regulator under any kind of pressure. It is up to them to look at the data and take their time looking at it. And other vaccines coming, we have more coming, we have invested in seven altogether and they will start to come on stream from late spring onwards. Picking up on the astrazeneca 0xford vaccine, it plays into a question from danny, asking how the vaccine will be administered in care homes given the way it needs to be stored. That was made very clear yesterday, that the problem is because of the storage and transportation and facilities needed to keep this at 70 degrees, thatis needed to keep this at 70 degrees, that is the problem getting it into ca re that is the problem getting it into care homes. I suppose the astrazeneca one, if, and i say if, it comes, the storage requirements are significantly different so that may enable that procedure to happen. Of course that was at the top of the list. Yes. Unfortunately, where we are right now, we have a brilliant vaccine that is available to us but it has some challenges as you say in terms of its storage conditions, it is relatively fragile. And it is not just about 70 to begin with, and about that thought it from 70 down toa about that thought it from 70 down to a normal kind of fridge temperature when you thaw it, you then have five days in which you can use the vaccine. It is about the number of times you open the door and take the vaccine out of the fridge. So far, and im glad youve asked the question because the messaging has not been very clear about that, there are rules on temperature but there are also rules, technical rules, which are there to protect the stability of there to protect the stability of the product, over the number of times the vaccine can what we call transit to and air temperature and that number is limited as well so it makes it quite a challenge for sir Simon Stephens and the nhs team which they are working on right now, to try to find a solution and when we can get into care homes, we absolutely will. But youre also right to say the astrazeneca vaccine, if passes regulatory scrutiny, is one where you can handle it all the way at two to 8 degrees centigrade 2 8 c, and its tolera nt of degrees centigrade 2 8 c, and its tolerant of being moved around and moved between fridges and so forth, andi moved between fridges and so forth, and i wait to see the details on that, but it should be a whole load easier and a whole load more employable in multiple nhs settings including, im hoping, easily, as easy as flu vaccines are handled every autumn with huge success a whole load more deployable. Every autumn with huge success a whole load more deployablem every autumn with huge success a whole load more deployable. It has been lovely speaking to you. I believe the van tam express is due to leave the station you have an appointment elsewhere to leave the station you have an appointment elsewhere i must object on my glide path to the next interview who do you test your metaphors on . I began testing them many years ago and i hope you wont mind me saying but, i dont suppose hes a lance couple any more, but Lance Corporal andy lennox, if is listening, he used to ask me medical questions as we sat around in tents in snowdonia and i practised the art there of turning medicine into stories if i could. And my family as well. Mrs van tam is very good at listening to all that stuff professorjonathan listening to all that stuff professor Jonathan Van Tam, thank you so much for your time this morning. And many thanks to everybody who has got in touch with questions, they are hugely useful because often questions that you are thinking, almost certainly somebody else is thinking them as well so thank you for that. Carol has a big rain to show us. Yes, the main intent is very much with us and it will turn heavier this afternoon in kent. We have snow falling in edinburgh earlier we have seen snow notjust in the hills but at lower levels particularly in parts of scotland and north east england. We have all this rain coming from the west moving north and east would. Some of it will be heavy not just in and east would. Some of it will be heavy notjust in kent but also sussex as it moves north, we will see some hill snow in the midlands and Northern England. In scotland and Northern England. In scotland and Northern Ireland, watch out for ice first thing but sunshine and showers, mostly in the north and west where some heavier ones could beat wintry. In any showers today you could hear the odd rumble of thunder and see sam hale with blustery winds through the English Channel see sam hale. It is a cold day in prospect across the board and that leads us into a cold night. This band of rain were pushed up night. This band of rain were pushed up the eastern coastal counties tonight as it engages with the cold air in land in parts of scotland and Northern England and once again we will see some snow, potentially at low levels. And the western flank of this band of rain, there is the chance of some sleet and snow, perhaps some slushy accumulations around the chilterns first thing. It will be a cold night, watch out for ice on untreated surfaces in scotla nd ice on untreated surfaces in scotland and Northern England. Heading into tomorrow, low pressure still driving the weather two front surround that and both will produce some rain and sleet and snow for a time but it will be transient at lower levels. The rain starts in the south, and rain and snow in scotland. That will push eastwards and it will turn back to rain as milder by comparison conditions come in but still cold and strong winds down the west of scotland and through the irish sea. There will be some dry weather as well. It will feel cold regardless of what the thermometer says when you add on the wind chill, feeling colder than that. If you are fed up of this, this weekend will remain cold and they will be rain for some of us on saturday, but it looks like it will be drierfor most saturday, but it looks like it will be drier for most of us on sunday. Im not fed up with the weather and i would never be fed up with you bless you have a lovely weekend. Students in england will get some extra help with their a level and gcse exams this summer, because of the disruption caused by the pandemic. Tim muffett is at a school in east london to find out more. You have been finding out more and im wondering where the bunsen burners are we have bunsen burners, microscopes, we are at bosbaan Community Academy in North East London getting a sense of reaction regarding exams in england next year where there will be a more generous marking scheme, greater clarity as to what topics will be examined and the opportunity in some subjects to bring in study aids like formula sheets to help. We can chat to some stu d e nts sheets to help. We can chat to some students who will be affected, year 11 students. Good morning to you. If ican ask 11 students. Good morning to you. If i can ask you, what you think about the new proposals . I think it is more fair, since we will be given more fair, since we will be given more information on what topics we will be assessed on and we will be better versed going into the exams on what we have to do. I think it relieves a sense of uncertainty. And the uncertainty has been such an issue so how hard as it been for stu d e nts issue so how hard as it been for students in your year . Really very hard. The stress and not knowing whether we will be doing gcses but now we know and we have the information about how easy it will be, it has taken off a lot of stress and we are confident in the future. And you have mocks at the moment so how are you coping with it and how is it been for you this year . The mocks have been quite stressful since we have been off school for six months, as soon as we come back we have to go straight into work mode and it has been quite stressful but to know that we are doing our gcses is great news. And are you relieved the exams are going to be taking place because there has been uncertainty, for example in wales that will not be but what you feel about the fact they are happening . Im pleased about that because after hearing what happened with wales and scotland i was very concerned because i thought i wasnt very prepared for what might mocks enough because of the six months we missed Home Learning was difficult to keep myself motivated and do work. Im glad i have been given the extra three the government have given us, and just more time to do our gcses and just more time to do our gcses and hopefully do better. The best of luck to all of you put that you actually have mock exams today so best of luck with those and with all the exams next year. It is such a challenge for so many students, and at least some clarity for those in england but in wales, exams will not be happening, they will be happening in Northern Ireland and scotland but at the moment it isjust the hires which are confirmed as a bit more clarity for students in england and certainly for these here, it seems to be well received that there will be some support in place for those exams. Thank you very much. Youre watching breakfast. Hello, good morning. Youre watching bbc news at nine with me, annita mcveigh. The headlines more generous grades and advance notice of topics are some of the measures for pupils sitting exams in england next summer because of the disruption caused by coronavirus. Youll be seeing students performing better than a cohort in 2019. The first doses of the pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine could arrive in the uk soon. The first 800,000 doses will be given in hospitals. And well be putting your questions on vaccines to englands deputy chief medical officer, professor Jonathan Van Tam, very shortly in a special edition of your questions answered. Students in england face a staggered return to university