What time is Matt Hancock speaking today, Wednesday, March 17?
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock is to hold the press conference today, March 17. He recently hit back against false attacks on the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine. What time is Matt Hancock’s announcement today? Hancock is due to speak to the nation at 5pm from Downing St. Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam will also […]
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock is to hold the press conference today, March 17.
He recently hit back against false attacks on the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates…
What time is Matt Hancock’s announcement today?
Hancock is due to speak to the nation at 5pm from Downing St.
Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam will also be present.
Last-minute changes can be made, so we will keep you updated.
What is the Health Secretary expected to say?
While the details of what the Health Secretary will say have not been released he is thought he will address the recent worries over the safety of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca.
Several European countries have stopped their rollout of the jab over incorrect fears that it may be linked to blood clots.
Shameless France and Germany yesterday admitted their ban was political – as MPs accused them of sulking over Britain’s more successful rollout.
The Health Secretary hit back at the criticism from European nations who have paused the jab, despite their own regulator giving in the green light and promising it is safe.
In an article for The Sun today, Mr Hancock urged people to keep getting the jab as there was no evidence it caused blood clots.
He wrote: “I want to reassure Sun readers — there is no evidence that vaccines caused these clots.
“Don’t just take my word for it — this is the view of the UK’s medicines regulator the MHRA, the European Medicines Agency, who reviewed the evidence just yesterday, the World Health Organisation and countless doctors and clinical experts who have made their views clear in these pages and elsewhere.
“Throughout our successful vaccine roll-out safety comes first, above all else, and the MHRA keeps careful watch to make sure the public are kept safe.
“Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon.”
The vaccine has already been given to 11 million people in the UK and there’s been no serious side-effects in this country so far.
Yet, data suggests slightly fewer people have had a blood clot after the AZ jab compared with Pfizer.
Nearly 25million people have had their jab from any vaccine – nearly half the UK adult population.
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How can I watch the presser?
You can also watch the live stream on The Sun website.
It will be aired live on BBC News and Sky News.
If you miss it, it will be made available on BBC iPlayer shortly after it is broadcast.
