just one in six female victims of sexual assault tell the police about it — we'll be asking why they're so reluctant. and in rugby union, wales have their sights on a six nations grand slam. coming up on bbc news, four wickets forjofra archer, as england's cricketers chase 186 to seal a t20 series win against india. good evening, and welcome to the bbc news at six. the eu medical regulator has, in the clearest possible terms, backed the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine. it follows a week in which several eu countries suspended their roll—out of the jab citing fears over a link to blood clots in a small number of people. here, the regulator confirmed it's been investigating five cases of a rare blood clot, but confirmed its longstanding view that the oxford jab was safe. there's been some more detail about why there's been a problem with the supply of vaccines to the uk, but the health secretary said no appointments would be cancelled. tonight, borisjohnson said "we remain on track to reclaim our lives". here's our medical editor fergus walsh. every injection, every vaccine given is another person protected. half a million people per day are getting immunised at present. in hull, there was no sign of vaccine hesitancy over the oxford astrazeneca jab, which more than a dozen eu countries have suspended using. i was which more than a dozen eu countries have suspended using.— have suspended using. i was waiting a lona have suspended using. i was waiting a longtime. — have suspended using. i was waiting a longtime. i'm _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my _ have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s - have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s and - have suspended using. i was waiting a long time, i'm in my 60s and i'vel a long time, i'm in my 60s and i've onlyjust got mine, so i wasjust happy it's finally done. i onlyjust got mine, so i was 'ust happy it's finally done.�* onlyjust got mine, so i was 'ust happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this * happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this is h happy it's finally done. i 'ust took on board this is my _ happy it's finally done. i just took on board this is my appointment, this is_ on board this is my appointment, this is what— on board this is my appointment, this is what needs doing, this is keeping — this is what needs doing, this is keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead _ keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and — keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and get it done. the keeping everyone safe so let's go ahead and get it done.— ahead and get it done. the uk medicines _ ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator _ ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator said - ahead and get it done. the uk medicines regulator said after| ahead and get it done. the uk. medicines regulator said after a rigorous review there was no evidence that blood clots were caused by the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. it looked in particular at five cases of rare clots in the brain among 11 million people immunised by the nhs. all were men under 60, one of whom died. it said given the link was unproven, the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed the potential side effects. forthose outweighed the potential side effects. for those in their 405, the risk of dying after covert infection is one in a thousand. —— covert infection. a5 is one in a thousand. —— covert infection. as a precautionary measure, it is advising anyone with a headache that last more than four days after vaccination to seek medical attention.— days after vaccination to seek medical attention. there is no evidence that _ medical attention. there is no evidence that blood _ medical attention. there is no evidence that blood clots - medical attention. there is no evidence that blood clots in i medical attention. there is no - evidence that blood clots in brains are occurring more than would be expected in the absence of vaccination, for either vaccine. the public can have every confidence in the thoroughness of our review. find the thoroughness of our review. and in amsterdam, the european medicines agency has come to the same conclusion about the astrazeneca jab. conclusion about the astrazeneca 'ab. , , ., conclusion about the astrazeneca 'ab. , ., conclusion about the astrazeneca jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its _ jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits _ jab. this is a safe and effective vaccine. its benefits in - jab. this is a safe and effective i vaccine. its benefits in protecting people _ vaccine. its benefits in protecting people from covid—19 with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation outweigh the possible risks. the committee also concluded — possible risks. the committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overaii— associated with an increase in the overall risk— associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events— overall risk of thromboembolic events or— overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots. the prime minister, who _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, _ events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will- events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will get - events or blood clots. the prime minister, who is 56, will get his| minister, who is 56, will get his first dose of the astrazeneca vaccine tomorrow, and said all adults would be offered a jab by the end ofjuly. tlil" adults would be offered a 'ab by the end ofjul . , ., ,, ., ., end ofjuly. our progress along the road to freedom _ end ofjuly. our progress along the road to freedom continues - end ofjuly. our progress along the . road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track— road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to _ road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to reclaim - road to freedom continues unchecked. we remain on track to reclaim the - we remain on track to reclaim the things— we remain on track to reclaim the things we — we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see _ we remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see our- we remain on track to reclaim the | things we love, to see our families and friends — things we love, to see our families and friends again, _ things we love, to see our families and friends again, to _ things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return- things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to - things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to our| and friends again, to return to our iocai— and friends again, to return to our local pubs, — and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our— and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms _ and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms and - and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms and sports . local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, — local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and _ local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of— local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of course - local pubs, our gyms and sports facilities, and of course our- local pubs, our gyms and sports . facilities, and of course our shops. all, facilities, and of course our shops. ali. of— facilities, and of course our shops. ali. of course, _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long _ facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as - facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as the - facilities, and of course our shops. all, of course, as long as the data| all, of course, as long as the data continue _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to— all, of course, as long as the data continue to go _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in— all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in the _ all, of course, as long as the data continue to go in the right - continue to go in the right direction, _ continue to go in the right direction, and _ continue to go in the right direction, and we - continue to go in the right direction, and we meet i continue to go in the rightl direction, and we meet our continue to go in the right - direction, and we meet our four tests _ direction, and we meet our four tests. .,, direction, and we meet our four tests. :: , , tests. those in their 40s seem likel to tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait _ tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait until- tests. those in their 40s seem likely to have to wait until mayj tests. those in their 40s seem i likely to have to wait until may to get their first vaccine, because older people will be getting their second shot, and there won't be enough extra doses to go around, due to some supply issues. half of all adults in the uk have now had a first dose of vaccine. the head of the nhs in england, sir simon stevens, got the astrazeneca jab at westminster abbey. safe and effective vaccines will answer all our prayers, to be delivered from this pandemic. fergus walsh, bbc news. our correspondentjean mackenzie is outside the european medicines agency in amsterdam now. so the regulator, the eu regulator, has given the green light. is this going to be enough for member countries to restart their vaccination programmes? well, countries always _ vaccination programmes? well, countries always said _ vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that - vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that if - vaccination programmes? well, countries always said that if the j countries always said that if the regulator did give the green light here this afternoon, they would restart u5ing here this afternoon, they would restart using the vaccine quickly, this is as close to a green light as i think they were ever going to get today. italy has already said it will start reusing the astrazeneca jab from tomorrow, as have a couple of the other smaller countries. france's prime minister has come out and said he is now going to get vaccinated with the astrazeneca jab, and i think we're going to see other countries follow. the regulator wa5 countries follow. the regulator was asked this afternoon directly whether european countries should start using the vaccine again, and the answer was crystal clear. we have vaccines that work, they are preventing deaths and they need to be used. it even went on to point out that thousands of people are still dying across europe every single day from covid, and this is something the european leaders are all too aware of. they are struggling to vaccinate people fast enough here, as many battle what appears to be the onset of a new wave of this virus. yes, they know they have been super cautious here. this is the in—depth analysis they asked for. it should do a lot to ease their anxieties.— asked for. it should do a lot to ease their anxieties. thank you very much. the prime minister today said there'd be no changes to the next steps of the road map, and the loosening of restrictions won't be affected by issues with vaccine supply. well, let's talk to laura kuenssberg at westminster. laura, so absolutely determined to meet these vaccination targets, and no compromises?— no compromises? that's right, georue. no compromises? that's right, george- after— no compromises? that's right, george. after a _ no compromises? that's right, george. after a really - no compromises? that's right, george. after a really choppy i no compromises? that's right, i george. after a really choppy few days on the other side of the channel and the news of the squeeze on supply we were talking about last night, i think the prime minister came out today with one goal in mind, to give the country reassurance with the r. number one first of all —— with a capital r. talking about his own plan to roll up talking about his own plan to roll up his sleeve tomorrow for his first job with the astrazeneca vaccine. he was therefore giving his own very personal endorsement on the safety of the vaccine, which was repeated on many occasions by the top medics appearing alongside him. secondly, he wanted to give reassurance on that supply issue. yes, we know for various different reasons that fergus was talking about, there has been a slowdown in the flow of vaccines into the uk, but the prime minister didn't want to get into a row about that, either with the eu or with india, and instead he reiterated that the government is still confident they will be able to stick to their targets, with all over 505 getting a first dose by the middle of april, and all adults getting theirfirst dose middle of april, and all adults getting their first dose by the end ofjuly. and what has happened there really is that ministers were so pleased this time last week that the vaccine had been going superfast, they thought that they might be able to accede the targets, but these plead —— the squeeze in supply meant they have to stick with their plans. but last of all, he said repeatedly, none of this should mean a change in the unlock of the country, that gradual reopening of the economy and the country's doors, and i think the fact the prime minister came out to front out this message today shows just how much the government is eager that the public�*s faith in the vaccine isn't dented. eager that the public's faith in the vaccine isn't dented.— eager that the public's faith in the vaccine isn't dented. thank you very much. the latest coronavirus figures show there were 6,303 new cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means, on average, the number of new cases reported per day in the last week is 5,601. the number of patients in hospital with covid continues to fall, now down to 7,218. there were 95 deaths reported of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, which means, on average, 108 deaths were reported every day in the past week from coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths so far to 125,926. on to vaccinations, and 462,246 people had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, which takes the total of people who have now had their firstjab to more than 25.7 million, meaning 49% of the uk adult population have now received their first vaccination. and nearly 1.9 million people have had both doses of the vaccine. the health secretary has announced an additional £6.6 billion of funding for the nhs in england. the money will be spent on continuing to deal with the coronavirus, but there was also a pledge to start tackling the ever—growing backlog of procedures that have been postponed during the pandemic. our health editor hugh pym has been hearing from one hospital boss about the scale of the task ahead. this experience... getting feedback from patients _ this experience. .. getting feedback from patients. marcel— this experience... getting feedback from patients. marcel leavey - this experience... getting feedback. from patients. marcel leavey because we once at university college hospital. he is both consultant and chief executive, and soon will head back to his native holland to become the dutch government's chief scientific adviser. he is full of praise for the work of staff but says the nhs was not well set before the pandemic, with waiting lists growing steadily, so covert cancellations have made an existing album a lot worse.— album a lot worse. covid is actually album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying _ album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass _ album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass making - album a lot worse. covid is actually a magnifying glass making very - album a lot worse. covid is actually l a magnifying glass making very clear the capacity in the nhs was not sufficient — the capacity in the nhs was not sufficient already four years, and that has — sufficient already four years, and that has now become very, very obvious — that has now become very, very obvious it _ that has now become very, very obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, — obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, a — obvious. it is going to take, i'm afraid, a very long time to get where — afraid, a very long time to get where we _ afraid, a very long time to get where we want to be.- afraid, a very long time to get where we want to be. does it need more money. _ where we want to be. does it need more money. just— where we want to be. does it need more money, just to _ where we want to be. does it need more money, just to get _ where we want to be. does it need more money, just to get through l more money, just to get through these procedures?— more money, just to get through these procedures? yes, of course it would take — these procedures? yes, of course it would take more _ these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, _ these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, and - these procedures? yes, of course it would take more money, and of- these procedures? yes, of course it. would take more money, and of course we will— would take more money, and of course we will try— would take more money, and of course we will try to _ would take more money, and of course we will try to do this as efficiently as possible, but you can only treat — efficiently as possible, but you can only treat all those patients if you introduce — only treat all those patients if you introduce even more weekend working, evening _ introduce even more weekend working, evening working, extra shifts, extra operating _ evening working, extra shifts, extra operating theatre time. an evening working, extra shifts, extra operating theatre time.— operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 operating theatre time. an extra £6-6 billion _ operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has _ operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has now— operating theatre time. an extra £6.6 billion has now been - operating theatre time. an extra i £6.6 billion has now been allocated to the nhs in england, some of which will be used to help cut waiting lists. there will be proportionate increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland. i increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland.— increases for scotland, wales and northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i — northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come _ northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home _ northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home from - northern ireland. i have a nice one but when i come home from work. | but when i come home from work. chris— but when i come home from work. chris can _ but when i come home from work. chris can only— but when i come home from work. chris can only hope _ but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it _ but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will - but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will make i but when i come home from work. chris can only hope it will make a. chris can only hope it will make a difference. he was keen on sport, but arthritis over the last few years has made that impossible. he has been told he needs a knee replacement, and has been waiting nearly a year. it is replacement, and has been waiting nearly a year-— nearly a year. it is frustration, absolute frustration _ nearly a year.