The postponing of Sporting Events and other mass gatherings. Fast forward 13 months to this week when the focus has been on the decision by us authorities to pause the use of Thejohnson Johnson covid vaccine. The vaccine which in europe is branded as jansen was approved in the us in late february. Since then, there have been six incidents of very rare clots in the brain out of 6. 8 million doses. So less than one case per Million People immunised. All were women under 50, one of them died and the one is critically ill. That issue of the possible links between very rare blood clots and vaccine such as those produced Byjohnson Johnson and astrazeneca is an acutely difficult one forjournalists and rouses strong emotions in the audience. Some viewers feel the bbc has made too much of the possible connection. And a similar concern after seeing this story online a couple of weeks ago. But others find fault in the opposite direction. Carrie marsh wasnt accusing bbc news of being on the wrong
Vaccine. That trial also showed the temporary side effects people sometimes get from taking the vaccine, those were basically the same in that age group. That 12 to 16 age group, as they are in adults. And that is very good news. And that very promising results now in hand, means the fdas Vaccine Advisory Group is apparently soon going to make its recommendations, and the fda will be expected to move quickly on approving the Pfizer Vaccine for 12 to 16yearolds, 12 to 15yearolds, since the current vaccines are approved for kids 16 and up. This could happen by next week. It could potentially happen by the end of this week. But this of course will be a huge relief to families around the country who have 12, 13, 14, 15yearold kids who have been thinking about how to mitigate covid risk for kids doing Summer Activities and kids going back to school in the fall. The other twoshot vaccine similar to pfizers, the moderna vaccine, that is in the midst of its own Clinical Trial in young people.
But others find fault in the opposite direction. Carrie marsh wasnt accusing bbc news of being on the wrong side of the fence but wondered. Well, imjoined now via webcam by fergus wells who is the bbc s medical editor. Thank you for coming on newswatch. Lets start with the issue of different vaccines, differing regulatory authorities around the world and then changing reports of possible risks. How do you decide what to report and when . Ive been reporting risk for a long time now. And its a tricky area. Ive always made it clear that no medicine, whether its aspirin or vaccines have they all carry a certain level of risk. We have to balance that against the benefit. And when stories began to emerge both in the uk and in europe, in particular about the astrazeneca, the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine and when they are reputable reports based on the safety data, the Safety Monitoring Data we have a duty to report that. But also to set it into context. I really think the viewers and listeners
A cherished moment during 73 years of marriage. Her majesty shares one of her favourite photos of herself and her husband, relaxing in the scottish highlands. This is the scene overlooking st georges chapel in windsor. A small group of Family Members will walk through the Castle Grounds this afternoon in procession behind the dukes coffin. Well be looking ahead to the Service Throughout the programme this morning. And also on breakfast this morning tributes to the actor Helen Mccrory, who has died at the age of 52. The Authorjk Rowling described the news as simply heartbreaking. The World Snooker championship gets underway in sheffield this morning. With fans returning to the Crucible Theatre, the first indoor Sporting Event to admit spectators as part of the governement s latest pilot scheme. Good morning. A quiet weekend of weatherhead. Yes, it is a chilly start once again, but there should be some decent spells of sunshine for most of us throughout the day. All the details coming up
I want to pex press my most sincere gratitude to nurses, doctors,s, caregiver, national guard, teachers, and many other essential workers who are on the frontlines of our fight against covid. You have all stepped up and ways we and you never would have imagined necessary or possible. Now on behalf of a very grateful state, thank you, thank you, thank you. And i would like to take just a moment of silence for the members of our connecticut family who we have lost this past year. Two years ago i introduced my family to you adding that annie and i consider connecticut like extension of our own family and after ten months of covid, that truer today than it ever was before. Every day we were reminded that we are all in this together and like any large family, we must look out and care for one another. Goodbye 2020 and good riddance a year that has been the most challenging and humbling in my life one year ago today we have never heard of covid and pandemic seemed a thing of the past. Onee y