doctors in england are to be paid an additional £10 for each house—bound patient they vaccinate against coronavirus. heavy snow could bring significant disruption to the south—east of england in the coming hours, with weather warnings issued by the met office for large parts of the uk. in cricket, england remain in control after day three of the 1st test against india in chennai. and coming up — the week in parliament programme looks back at the week in westminster. good afternoon. the scientists behind the oxford—astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine say it should still prevent people needing hospital treatment or dying, despite the emerging south african variant. research has found that the jab offers only limited protection against mild cases of that variant — although that study hasn't yet been checked by other experts. the government says it is looking at ways to deal with covid variants in the long term. our health correspondent, jim reed, reports. surge testing in the midlands to try and stamp out the latest variant of coronavirus. around 100 cases of a version first found in south africa have been confirmed here to date. the worry is, a specific mutation could make our vaccines less effective. now new trial results from south africa appear to confirm that. a small study of 2,000 people published in full tomorrow has found the oxford astrazeneca jab only offered limited protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the south african variant. there were too few cases of serious disease to measure in the trial, but the developers say separate blood tests suggest the vaccine should still be able to prevent hospital admissions and deaths. maybe we won't be reducing the number of cases as much, but we still won't be seeing the deaths, the hospitalisations and the severe disease, and that's really important for health care systems, even if we are having mild and asymptomatic infections. the news today follows similar findings from other vaccine manufacturers. scientists in oxford are already working to tweak their vaccine and say a new version which can better protect against the south african variant should be available by the autumn. ministers say we may need a differentjab each year to protect the population. we see very much probably an annual or a booster in the autumn and then an annual, in the way we do with flu vaccinations, where you look at what variant of virus is spreading around the world, you rapidly produce a variant of vaccine and then begin to vaccinate and protect the nation. 11 million people have received a vaccine so far in the uk, but a reminder today that even when that programme is complete, it's unlikely to mean the end of covid. we may well have to live with this virus for many months if not years to come. jim reed, bbc news. jim joins me now. how worried should people be by this news? it is worth pointing out that this is not a surprise by any means. scientists have been warning about vaccines potentially being able to kind of vaccines for a good six months since we started talking about the roll—out process in the summer. the results coming out of this trial in oxford are showing what other vaccine manufacturers are showing as well, which is that a specific mutation with the south african variant of coronavirus. that mutation appears to allow the virus to get around some antibody protection if you have had the virus or potentially if you have been vaccinated. that is what scientists are concerned about. however, some reassurance today, they say that the astrazeneca vaccine, the data shows that it astrazeneca vaccine, the data shows thatitis astrazeneca vaccine, the data shows that it is not working as well potentially to stop mild and moderate disease, but the people behind the vaccine do think that it will work as well on severe disease, so stopping people going into hospital. so stopping people going into hosital. ., ., ~' ., hospital. that almost as like a aradox, hospital. that almost as like a paradox. bad _ hospital. that almost as like a paradox, bad news _ hospital. that almost as like a paradox, bad news you - hospital. that almost as like a paradox, bad news you will. hospital. that almost as like a | paradox, bad news you will get hospital. that almost as like a i paradox, bad news you will get it mildly, but it will not be fatal as far as they can tell at this stage. but there is whois in the study, which can affect the results and actually how badly they get the virus in the first place. absolutely. it was quite a small study, only 2000 people. we will get all of the data tomorrow, we have just seen press releases at the moment. the issue is that the average age of people in this study was 31 years old, so you will not pick up perhaps those serious cases that you might have done if you had an older age group. that is part of the issue. let an older age group. that is part of the issue. ., , ., an older age group. that is part of the issue. ., ,~' , ., ., the issue. let me ask you more broadly about _ the issue. let me ask you more broadly about how _ the issue. let me ask you more broadly about how the - the issue. let me ask you more i broadly about how the vaccination programme is going globally. it is an issue for us in this country. enlightened self interest, we need the world to get it, but there is also the issue of supply. if all of the vaccines are coming from europe or the uk, will there be enough to go around the rest of the world? especially in places like south africa. if we are talking about the oxford astrazeneca virus, a0 million 0xford astrazeneca virus, a0 million on order by the end of the year, just of that vaccine alone. 0bviously just of that vaccine alone. obviously a development like this, shoving it potentially might not work as well on those mild and moderate cases, might have a bigger impact on south africa than it might do in the uk where there are a handful of cases at the moment. in terms of where we are noticing that mutation, there are other places as well, botswana, south—east africa, which is why you are seeing the government bringing a wider travel ban must it is notjust south africa thatis ban must it is notjust south africa that is affected by the travel ban at the moment, it is that whole area. but cases have been picked up elsewhere, japan, germany, canada. this will be a problem notjust for the uk or south africa but across the uk or south africa but across the world going forward. just the uk or south africa but across the world going forward.- the world going forward. just to ick u- the world going forward. just to pick up on _ the world going forward. just to pick up on that. _ the world going forward. just to pick up on that, you _ the world going forward. just to pick up on that, you think- the world going forward. just to pick up on that, you think it - the world going forward. just to pick up on that, you think it is l pick up on that, you think it is possible that these mutations are happening kind of within countries, without coming from another infection, it is all part of the process of the virus, wherever it is, kind of developing its defences, altering its mode of attack? and the scientist have to keep one step ahead as far as possible? that's rirht. ahead as far as possible? that's right- last _ ahead as far as possible? that's right. last week _ ahead as far as possible? that's right. last week we _ ahead as far as possible? that's right. last week we had - ahead as far as possible? that's right. last week we had some i ahead as far as possible? that's - right. last week we had some news on this where in the uk there has been a handful of cases of the uk variant, the so—called kent variant, also showing the same mutation as the south african one. on the surface, that seems like bad news. if there is something within the virus itself which means that, over time, it is likely to produce the same sort of defences, that could be quite good news because it means the vaccines only have to be tweaked in a certain way, perhaps, to deal with a certain way, perhaps, to deal with a number of these different variants. .., ., a number of these different variants. _, ., ., , , . variants. encouraging, optimistic thou . ht to variants. encouraging, optimistic thought to end — variants. encouraging, optimistic thought to end on _ variants. encouraging, optimistic thought to end on there. - variants. encouraging, optimistic thought to end on there. thank. variants. encouraging, optimistic. thought to end on there. thank you. doctors in england are to be paid an extra £10 by the nhs for every person who's housebound that they vaccinate. meanwhile, 18 new mass vaccine centres open tomorrow. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh. gp george hobbs is headed out to give around 20 of his patients covid jabs at home. they're too ill or vulnerable to come in a for a vaccination. first up is diana garfitt... right, 0k. ..who has heart problems and is also losing her sight. there still is a hope in the back of my mind, however old i am, i still have that hope that... ..something will work out. right, cheerio, bye—bye! it's great because i have been a gp for over 27 years and they know me, so i think when they see someone familiar coming it makes a difference to the experience. but quite a lot of them are quite nervous and then when they see someone they know, that is very reassuring. hello, i am calling - from ashtree surgery. ashtree surgery in carnforth in lancashire is on course to vaccinate its most vulnerable patients by the middle of this month, but that is not the case everywhere. so gps will receive an additional £10 on top of the standard fee for every housebound person they vaccinate. yes, this will be helpful. it does take significantly longer to go out and visit someone and to take the necessary time and precautions in each and every visit, that takes people away from a vaccination centre, where they can do more vaccinations in a similar amount of time. so we do need to recognise that and it is good that nhs england have done that and have provided this additional small amount of funding to enable practices to provide vaccinations to this particularly vulnerable group of people as quickly as possible. the latest data shows that more than 11.a million people have received their first dose. that is a rise ofjust over a9a,000 on the previous 2a—hour reporting period. at this rate of vaccination, the nhs would need to give jabs to an average ofjust under 393,000 people per day in order to meet the government's target of 15 million first doses by the 15th of february. and the scottish government has said that it has met its target to vaccinate the over 80s by the 5th of february. there are to be 18 more vaccination sites opening from next week, like the one at blackburn cathedral. the new sites mean the jabs are now available from more than 100 large—scale centres, 1000 local gp services, almost 200 pharmacies and over 250 hospitals. pallab ghosh, bbc news. the labour mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, is calling for poorer areas of the country, where life expectancy is lower, to be given additional supplies of the covid—19 vaccines. iam not i am not going to sort of find ways of criticising. what i am saying todayis of criticising. what i am saying today is just to think of adjusting the approach as we move into the next phase of the vaccination programme, when we have axing those people between 50 and 70, because in my view, if we want to save more lives, as we do, it means notjust looking at age but looking at life expectancy in different parts of the country as well. parts of the uk, impulse greater manchester for instance, people's life expectancy is ten years behind what it is in other parts of the country. to put it another way, people in their 60s have the same level of health as people in their 70s in the more affluent areas. the vaccination programme needs to take account of that. 0ur political correspondent, ben wright, is here. let's talk about what has been happening today with the politics. andy burnham is talking about spreading the vaccines more widely, wanting an end to the tier system when we come out of it. what stage ari at with that. there is an important date for the government to assess whether it can allow any movement at all, to relax the restrictions?— movement at all, to relax the restrictions? february 22 is the date in the _ restrictions? february 22 is the date in the diary _ restrictions? february 22 is the date in the diary that _ restrictions? february 22 is the date in the diary that we - restrictions? february 22 is the date in the diary that we are i date in the diary that we are waiting for. that is when boris johnson will come to the house of commons and describe... a fortnight tomorrow? yes. it will be where he things the lockdown goes next. the government will be assembling the data before then about how the vaccine roll—out will be going, are they hitting their target? it looks like it. we will be looking at hospitalisations, mortality rates, whether they're are new variants peppihg whether they're are new variants pepping up, whether they're are new variants popping up, how they are doing suppressing the south african variant. all of that goes into the mix and it will determine what the government will announce the week after the parliamentary half term, february 22. the other day we do know is that the government wants english schools to be back by march the 8th. that will be part of their thinking as well, they will be weighing up the extent to which they think that may or may not make a difference to the replication rate and the transmissible to the virus. so it will be a couple of weeks was not what about this issue of vaccine passports? not what about this issue of vaccine --assorts? ., ., ., ~' not what about this issue of vaccine --assorts? ., ., ., ~ , passports? travelfor work, summer holida s, passports? travelfor work, summer holidays. they _ passports? travelfor work, summer holidays, they are _ passports? travelfor work, summer holidays, they are for _ passports? travelfor work, summer holidays, they are for the _ passports? travelfor work, summer holidays, they are for the future, - holidays, they are for the future, but the debate is very lively on this. �* but the debate is very lively on this. . , . ., but the debate is very lively on this. . , ., ., this. and becoming also for some the more peeple — this. and becoming also for some the more people who _ this. and becoming also for some the more people who are _ this. and becoming also for some the more people who are immunised, - this. and becoming also for some the | more people who are immunised, who are inching towards freedom, and the more we talk about lockdown and the closer we get to the summer, people are thinking about holidays. the greek government are saying they are willing to seek which is holiday—makers if they can prove they have been vaccinated. tony blair said recently that he things this would be inevitable in the future world, that britain should be on the front foot trying to do that now. but ten free macro said it is not in their current thinking at all, partly because vaccines in the uk are not mandatory. so he does not think it would be workable. there are some who think they have to stop and can go on holiday, and others who are younger cannot, and he things that would be this commentary —— that would be discovered disco literary. he was talking about it like an annualjab like the flu jab. you do get a sense of the long hole nature of the fight against covid—19. —— the long hall. at least nine people have died and 150 are missing after a crumbling glacier caused flash flooding in northern india. the floods washed away part of a dam in the uttarakhand region of the himalayas. most of those missing are believed to be construction workers. disaster relief forces have been sent to the area. 0ur south asia editor, anbarasan ethirajan, has this update. the officials are saying that this himalayan glacier which broke away washed away parts of this dam. there have been a couple of construction projects going in that particular area of uttarakhand state, and basically for hydropower projects, and many of those missing are believed to be working in these power projects and, as we speak, hundreds of emergency services personnel have been deployed to the area, and so far they say they have recovered three bodies and dozens are still missing. and the government has already asked the army to be on standby and more people are being rushed to the area. but there is a fear that people who were maybe going along the riverside, along the banks of the alaknanda river, could be missing because many people take their cattle for grazing and they also go around collecting firewood. these people could be missing and this particular area is very, very ecologically sensitive and the government says that it is doing all it can to rescue as many people as possible. but it does look like the death toll could rise significantly? yes. one of the tunnels, according to officials, is completely blocked and dozens of the workers are still trapped inside, they are trying to reach out to these people, but they are not very hopeful because it is completely submerged in mud. this particular area also witnessed another flooding in 2013, in which thousands of people were killed and environmentalists have been warning for a long time against building roads and constructing dams in these rivers. these are tributaries that finally go and join the mighty river ganges, and for the last four or five years people have been warning. there have been court cases about building a road in these particular sensitive areas, very close to the himalayan mountains, and also building dams. but now the officials will have to think twice because part of this dam has been washed away. they need to revisit this whole project again. the headlines on bbc news: the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine offers limited protection against mild disease caused by the south african variant of covid—19. the uk government has no plans to introduce "vaccine passports", according to the vaccines minister, who says the focus should remain on the inoculation programme itself. doctors in england are to be paid an additional £10 for each house—bound patient they vaccinate against coronavirus. heavy snow is forecast to bring significant disruption to the east and south—east of england later today. snow is moving in and weather warnings have been issued by the met office for large parts of the uk with predictions of possible travel disruption. vishala sri—pathma reports. the sledges are out in full force, as are the carefully crafted snowmen and rather large snowballs. it might be sub zero temperatures in parts of britain, but the snow appears to be bringing some of us a little light relief during lockdown. but for parts of the south—east of england, it is not all fun and games. with roads disrupted and trains cancelled. south—eastern have closed some lines for all of sunday and monday, and are asking passengers to stay at home. in essex, some coronavirus testing sites have been forced to close, with vaccination centres remaining open for now. the met office have issued an amber warning for these parts of england, meaning that travel people and power cuts are expected. a yellow alert for much of scotland and northern ireland. in the meantime, we all need to be a bit more careful while going on our daily walks, whether dogs or humans. lord falconer has apologised for comments he made calling the pandemic a "gift that keeps on giving" for lawyers. the shadow attorney general made the comments during a briefing for a city law firm. he's said he very much regrets his choice of words, and that he's sorry. the engingeering giant rolls—royce is proposing to temporarily close its factories making jet engines this summer in a bid to cut costs because of the pandemic. the shutdown, which is thought to be a first for the firm, would affect 12,500 workers in the uk and last a fortnight across its civil aerospace division. concern is rising about the mental health of people working in agriculture. according to the office for national statistics, more than 130 people working in the industry in britain took their life in 2019. since then, covid restrictions on events and markets have left farmers and farm workers more isolated. but mental health groups say young farmers are changing the way the issue is discussed and viewed, as our rural affairs correspondent, claire marshall, has been finding out. i don't think i'd be here myself if it wasn't for my daughter. andy and his daughter, vicky, are a team, running the family farm in leicestershire. i have lost some friends through suicide. that sort of hits home. vicky was once a beautician. shejoined him when he felt he couldn't cope any more. we tend to sort of have this image of big, butch rugby players, or big men. but mental health doesn't discriminate against anybody. it's hard to take advice when you're in that dark, dark place. i still have bad days, as we both do. it'sjust coping through the bad days. and at least now we have more of an understanding of each other. the coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact. it is shows like this, key events in the countryside calendar, that would help to keep the agricultural community together. most were cancelled. livestock markets are limited. on top of that, the weather. climate change is altering the seasons. it's been the coldest january for almost a decade and this after a wet summer when crops didn't grow well. there's lots of talk about all the subsidies farmers get. they make very, very little money. most of them subsist on a level that you and i wouldn't be willing to accept. you're not listening to me, all right? i can't stand it when you don't listen. you're doing my head in. this is a mental health awareness campaign. at long last, it's no longer a taboo subject. mental ill health is the biggest hidden problem in farming today. we also know 90% of them actually agree that talking about it will remove any stigma that's attached to it. the largest survey ever undertaken into the mental health of those in agriculture has just been launched. bad days aren't the end of the world, everyone has them, whether they are struggling with mental health or not, really. vicky hopes her and herfather�*s story will help others to see there can be a bright future infarming. it'sjust remembering that the bad days do end. tomorrow is a new day. claire marshall, bbc news. for details of organisations that can help you if you are affected by some of the issues in clare's report, you can find all of those details on our website, just look for action online. it is bbc... uk forwards acolyte. as the lockdown continues and new covid variants emerge, the government is constantly looking at what restrictions are needed to bring the virus under control. one thing that's so far been ruled out is axing the bubble system — because, for many, bubbles have represented a lifeline during the pandemic. hope bolger has been taking a look at how they've helped. it's been a lifeline. i don't know how people are doing without it. the difference it has made it to our quality of life, to her quality of life, is huge. it has actually saved my life. coronavirus has caused many of us to feel isolated at times. during the first lockdown some people spent weeks without any real human contact. alex was one of them. the most meaningful conversation i had was with the lady in the co—op over the road about eggs. it was incredibly isolating, it got really, really lonely. when support bubbles were brought in lastjune, they offered people in similar situations a vital chance to reconnect. it has actually saved my life. had the situation of being on my own, being away from people, gone on for much longer, i don't know what state i would have ended up in. honestly, i owe my friends who said "come over" a world of gratitude. because without them, we might not be having the conversation. the rules across the uk differ slightly. in england, wales and scotland, you can form a support bubble if you are the only adult in the house. separately, england has childcare bubbles for families with kids under 1a. scotland lets couples who live apart bubble, even if there are other people in their households and in northern ireland two households of any size can form a household bubble. it's even really difficult thinking back to it, just how much of a struggle it was. with a tantruming, really needy two—year—old it was so, so, so difficult. nessa runs a new business and is a university lecturer, all while looking after her toddler, jacob. she gets help from her mum, pam. it's been a lifeline, i don't know how people are doing without it. my business definitely wouldn't have been able to survive because we are a new business, i do need to go on to site quite often. at a time when schools are closed, shops are shut and pubs are empty some have raised concerns that bubbles contribute to the spread of the virus, but would ditching them lead to more problems? in the last few weeks, the government has dismissed rumours it might suspend bubbles. the bubbles that we have in place, the childcare bubbles, the support bubbles, are very important and we are going to keep them. experts say it's a case of weighing up the risks. so it's really important that you form the bubble with the right people to optimise your mental health and at the same time to reduce your chance of contracting the virus. what would you do if we couldn't come round and make your dinner for you? starve. 93—year—old margaret worked in the land army during the second world war. this support bubble has really allowed us to actually keep her independent in her home because the reality is if it didn't exist she'd have to go into a home or she'd have to move in with us, which she vehemently does not want to do. as with everything during this pandemic, it's about finding the right balance, but for those in bubbles their importance cannot be overstated. we can now speak to amrita sen mukherjee, a gp specialising in wellbeing. thank you very much for being with us. what has been your experience dealing with the patience you have spoken to about the value of the bubble system? bubble system ? i bubble system? i think it is really important to understand that lockdown is in place to protect us from the virus, but we need to really understand that that does have an impact on us because of the isolation and because of the loneliness that people feel. that can really impact our mental health and our physical health, because of that, and so these bubbles have really been a lifeline for so many people, as we saw in your report. it people, as we saw in your report. it is a trade—off, isn't it? presumably there is still a risk. people are bubbling between two houses. there is a risk that one side will infect the other. from your point of view, it is still a risk worth taking? that is a hard question to answer, but i think what i will say is it is important to balance that risk supplemental health impact of the isolation and loneliness cannot be denied. as long as we are thinking about the risks, we are making sure that we are practising good hygiene methods, washing our hands, wearing a mask, and making sure we are not symptomatically when participating in these bubbles is really important. it is also to understand who is eligible for these bubbles. checking those government websites for guidance and seeing who is eligible to actually participate in these bubbles is really key. keeping those contacts down, using these bubbles when they are needed, so not just because they are there, but because you need them, because your mental health might be in difficulty, because your physical health might be in difficulty. it is that constant balance of, what other risk against the benefits at these times? and keeping those connections down, those meetings down, as much as possible and always taking about what the risks are. xyour as possible and always taking about what the risks are.— as possible and always taking about what the risks are. your point about the guidelines _ what the risks are. your point about the guidelines it's _ what the risks are. your point about the guidelines it's worth _ what the risks are. your point about the guidelines it's worth stressing i the guidelines it's worth stressing because it varies around the uk, doesn't it? scotland lets couples who live apart bubble, but that might not be possible in other parts of the uk. i suppose also people need to realise that they can change bubbles, but they have to have a break between them to ensure there is no risk of cross infection? that's right for soapy whilst —— that's right. you must check the guidance, because things do change depending on the different strains coming into the uk and depending on the current situation in your local area. but what i will say is you must, if you are thinking about changing your support bubble or childcare bubble, have that intervening period of isolation in between. the advice is that you should not be mixing social bubbles, sorry, support should not be mixing social bubbles, 5°i’i’y, support bubbles should not be mixing social bubbles, sorry, support bubbles or childcare bubbles, you should stick to one bubbles, you should stick to one bubble only. although you can be in a support bubble and a childcare bubble at the same time, but it is about not mixing those bubbles to keep those meetings down and try to keep those meetings down and try to keep the transmission of the virus down at the same time.— keep the transmission of the virus down at the same time. thank you so much. down at the same time. thank you so much- thank— down at the same time. thank you so much- thank you _ down at the same time. thank you so much. thank you for _ down at the same time. thank you so much. thank you for having _ down at the same time. thank you so much. thank you for having me. - a 70—year—old grandfather from 0ldham has become the oldest man to complete a solo row across the atlantic. frank rothwell arrived in antigua yesterday, completing his journey in 56 days and a week ahead of schedule. frank has raised more than £600,000 for alzheimer's research uk. now, it's time for a look at the weather with louise lear.