You can contact us on twitter Annita Mcveigh or Bbcyourquestions The Uk and eu agree to work intensively to sort out problems with post brexit trade in Northern Ireland. And coming up this hour tennis Officials Say the Australian Open will start as planned on monday , despite hundreds of players and staff being forced to isolate again in melbourne. A new trial has launched here in the uk to look at the impact of giving people different Coronavirus Vaccines for their first and second doses. The mix and match approach could provide more flexibility in the event of any Supply Problems. Scientists say its possible that having different vaccines might even provide better protection than having the same one twice. It comes as the uk yesterday passed the milestone of giving 10 Million People theirfirstjabs. Dominic hughes reports with more than ten Million People now having had their firstjabs across the uk, the Vaccination Roll Out is well under way. But could mixing doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca and the Pfizer Biontech vaccines offer the body even more chances to develop defences against the virus . Thats whats behind a new trial being unveiled today. The study will involve 820 volunteers, none of whom have yet had the vaccine. All will be aged 50 or over, part of the group to be vaccinated in the next priority wave. The trial will run initially at eight sites across england. What were doing here is we are looking to see how well peoples Immune Systems respond if you give the first dose with one covid vaccine, the second with another. And the reason we want to do that is to build flexibility into the uk Immunisation Schedule for covid vaccines, and even globally. It makes it much easier to administer these vaccines if you dont have to worry too much about always giving the second dose the same as the first dose. That also brings resilience into the Immunisation Schedule. If there were to be Supply Problems with one of the vaccines, then you are protected against that by being able to immunise with the other vaccine as an alternative. Researchers believe there are good reasons to think it may work. For example, exactly this process was used in the fight against ebola. Introducing flexibility in the Vaccination Programme could also help, should there be disruption to vaccine supplies, and it may be of huge benefit to developing countries that have yet to get Vaccination Programmes up and running. The first results should be known by the early summer. Dominic hughes, bbc news. Joining me now is professor colin harwood, a microbiologist from the university of newcastle. Very good to help you with us this morning. Has this mixed vaccine approach been used previously with other viruses . Approach been used previously with other viruses . , ~ ,. , other viruses . Good morning. As your re ort other viruses . Good morning. As your report said. Other viruses . Good morning. As your report said, there other viruses . Good morning. As your report said, there were other viruses . Good morning. As your report said, there were some other viruses . Good morning. As your report said, there were some trials i report said, there were some trials with this with the ebola vaccine. Generally speaking, this is rather normal approach to looking at how different vaccines respond. In different vaccines respond. In theory, is it a logical thing to do . Yes, it is because although both of the vaccines involved here, the astrazeneca and the pfizer vaccine, the Technology Used to deliver the same proteins is rather different. So this means that when the Immune System gets to see the protein, it will see it in a different context and also each of these vaccines have ways to stimulate the Immune System at the sight of the infection and this will be slightly different as well. So it is possible there will be subtle differences in the response to the vaccines and these responses may overlap to make it a broader spectrum of activity against the viruses. In broader spectrum of activity against the viruses. ,. , broader spectrum of activity against the viruses the viruses. In other words, asking the viruses. In other words, asking the immune the viruses. In other words, asking the Immune System the viruses. In other words, asking the Immune System to the viruses. In other words, asking the Immune System to be the viruses. In other words, asking the Immune System to be more. The viruses. In other words, asking the Immune System to be more nimble and to look at attacking this virus in different ways . And to look at attacking this virus in different ways . Yes. It will see the protein in different ways . Yes. It will see the protein and in different ways . Yes. It will see the protein and is in different ways . Yes. It will see the protein and is slightly the protein and is slightly different way. When it responds, the Immune System itself sees it not just as one protein but a series of small what we call anti germs. It already produces a spectrum of activities but now the spectrum will be slightly broader and that is the hope. Be slightly broader and that is the ho e. ,. , , be slightly broader and that is the hoe. , hope. The exciting possibility is the possibility hope. The exciting possibility is the possibility that hope. The exciting possibility is the possibility that using hope. The exciting possibility is the possibility that using two i the possibility that using two different vaccines could actually defend the body more than two doses of the same vaccine. What are the chances that could be the case . That is what they chances that could be the case . That is what they trials chances that could be the case . Trust is what they trials are there to look at. I think it is possible. Given the different technologies that the two vaccines use so i do anticipate that there may be a broader spectrum for the combined two vaccines but the trial is there to look at that and evaluate the effectiveness of using this double approach. Effectiveness of using this double a roach. , effectiveness of using this double auroach. , , approach. Could the reverse be ossible approach. Could the reverse be possible and approach. Could the reverse be possible and could approach. Could the reverse be possible and could be approach. Could the reverse be possible and could be less possible and could be less efficacious than two doses of the same vaccine . It efficacious than two doses of the same vaccine . Efficacious than two doses of the same vaccine . It could be and the trial will look same vaccine . It could be and the trial will look at same vaccine . It could be and the trial will look at that. Same vaccine . It could be and the trial will look at that. The same vaccine . It could be and the trial will look at that. The burst i trial will look at that. The burst of the second jab is partly to stimulate the memory of the original vaccination and it is possible that it will respond differently but i think because the vaccines are likely to give overlapping responses, i dont anticipate it will be a problem, but the body and the Immune System is a complicated thing so it is very difficult to model what is likely to happen. {lin a modelwhat is likely to happen. On a Ractical Modelwhat is likely to happen. On a practical level. Model what is likely to happen. On a practical level, getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible, Big Questions over Supply Issues and struggles between different governments, havent we . If this works and is shown to be at least as effective of two doses of the same vaccine, it could get us round some Supply Issues and manufacturing problems at a particular government has different types of vaccines ready to go . This is one of the types of vaccines ready to go . Ti 3 is one of the important aspects of theirs. We have already seen, making a vaccine is a complicated process with lots of checks and balances throughout, things do go wrong, and these are picked up in the Quality Control of the evaluation, this will help to ensure supplies and the other thing as it is two Major Companies working together and thatis Major Companies working together and that is another benefit of this particular approach. That is another benefit of this particular approach. Thank you very much. Lets pick up on this with our chief Political Correpondent adam fleming at westminster. Vaccine is obviously key to beginning to ease Lockdown Restrictions and return to a more normal life, what sort of timeframe as the government talking about and are you sensing any tension between what the scientists are saying right now and what certain politicians are saying . We now and what certain politicians are sa in . ~ now and what certain politicians are sa in . , now and what certain politicians are sa in . ,. Saying . We saw the Press Conference esterda , saying . We saw the Press Conference yesterday, vaccinations saying . We saw the Press Conference yesterday, vaccinations are saying . We saw the Press Conference yesterday, vaccinations are shootingl yesterday, vaccinations are shooting up, the number of cases are falling rapidly and hospitalisations and deaths is slowing down and falling but not as rapidly as the other indicators. Some conservative mps will be looking at this and asking if they can go faster with lifting the lockdown in england, perhaps schools could open earlier than the 8th of march, but the government is sticking to its approach which it describes as cautious rather than slow. Look at the date it on the 15th of february, published a plan on the week of the 22nd and potentially schools opening on the eighth. This how the Vaccine Minister said. The Prime Minister has| made it very clear that, on the 22nd of february, there will be a road map for how we intend to reopen the economy, beginning with schools on the 8th| of march and then gradually the rest of the economy. I you have to set yourself targets. And you hope everything goes well. The scientists are very cautious at the moment and chris whitty said there are hints in the data that the Vaccination Programme is starting to work and infect the progress of the virus in the over 80s but they are very small hence and he is not convinced yet and it will be a couple of weeks before that happens. In the Scientific Community there are people talking about how bright the future might be fairly soon. Have a listen to professor hayward from University College london on the committee which advises the government on respiratory viruses. Once the most vulnerable people, and particularly those over 50 and those with chronic illnesses, are vaccinated, then, yes, i think we can see a significant return to normality. And that, you know, in addition to the fact that coronavirus is a seasonal disease, i think will make a big difference and allow us to open up. And i think what we will see is a phased opening up as the Vaccination Levels increase. And then we will be more or less back to normal for the summer, i would imagine. Another part of this complex equation of opening up and stopping people bringing their virus and in the first place. We have been looking at hotel quarantine, what more is the government saying about that . It more is the government saying about that . ,. , that . It is getting confusing, the Prime Minister that . It is getting confusing, the Prime Minister said that . It is getting confusing, the Prime Minister said yesterday i that . It is getting confusing, the i Prime Minister said yesterday that matt hancock who is responsible would make a statement today. Then we were then told that the Prime Minister had missed broken and that was not the intention. If we look at parliamentary proceedings last week the Home Secretary said matt hancock would be making a statement this week. There was an expectation and government that something would happen and something has not happened yet. The Chief Executive of the Best Western Hotels group was on the Best Western Hotels group was on the radio this morning and he is frustrated because he says his hotel chain has a plan ready to go to implement quarantine for returning travellers but he has had very little engagement from the government. We are going to have to wait and see although it was pointed out that this is a big logistical challenge and sometimes whitehall takes a little time to get his head round big logistical challenges. The uk and eu have said they will work hard to resolve concerns about the impact of the brexit trade deal on Northern Ireland. Since the start of the year, supermarkets have struggled the uk and eu have said they will work hard to resolve concerns about the impact of the brexit trade deal on Northern Ireland. Since the start of the year, supermarkets have struggled with supplies, and border checks had to be suspended last week when staff were threatened. Talks last night were described as constructive. Our europe correspondent, gavin lee is in brussels for us. The uk and eu intend to work intensively. What does that mean . They have very different implications. It was a joint statement from michael gove and the Vice President of the eu and in addition to the Virtual Meeting that lasted a0 minutes last night, the deputy Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the first minister, ultimately the history of this after last weeks trouble and catastrophe admitted by the eu intending to trigger article 15 of the Northern Ireland protocol suspending its usual application meaning there could be a border between ireland and other island with vaccine checks happening there, they have stopped that but a letter yesterday morning published by michael gove sent to the eu said after that problem we have seen threats to eu and Northern Irish ports, staff were suspended from work since tuesday, they are off work at the moment, those checks are not in place on certain foodstuffs and we need some resolution here. There is a grace period of certain supermarket products, meats and medicines, we need to continue this scenario until the end of 2022. It was a a0 minute meeting. It will be a constructive way of finding solutions. The Deputy President will come to Northern Ireland next week. The eu will continue to impose these checks and the uk as pushing to extend it. In the uk as pushing to extend it. In the last few minutes we have had bbc radio ulster, the Foreign Minister for ireland and he said that the idea of the grace period now, we will look to put in place and extend some of the grace period, i think it is under consideration but nothing dramatic in terms of protocol. Some very small room for manoeuvre, the eu also want assurances for the staff to go back to work at the port safely. Staff to go back to work at the port safel. , staff to go back to work at the port safel. , ,. , safely. That is interesting what he has been saying safely. That is interesting what he has been saying because safely. That is interesting what he has been saying because a safely. That is interesting what he has been saying because a grace i has been saying because a grace period, ok, its a Breathing Space but the idealfor period, ok, its a Breathing Space but the ideal for both sides is to find a solution to this quickly. It has always been right from the start one of the trickiest areas to sort out. It one of the trickiest areas to sort out. , one of the trickiest areas to sort out. , ,. , one of the trickiest areas to sort out. ,. ,. , out. It has been put to me by two eu officials this out. It has been put to me by two eu officials this morning, out. It has been put to me by two eu officials this morning, here out. It has been put to me by two eu officials this morning, here we out. It has been put to me by two eu officials this morning, here we go officials this morning, here we go again. Posted brexit talks,