K's vaccination program.

1/4 vaccine could be approved shortly after major trials in the UK showed it was particularly effective against the UK variant.

Novavax is an American jab, but it's being produced here in the UK in a factory on Teesside tonight.

The prime minister thank all the volunteers involved in the trials and said if approved by the U.

K's medicine regulator, the UK has 60 million doses on order.

The news came amid a deepening row between AstraZeneca and the European Union over vaccine shortages are, medical editor Fergus Walsh reports.

Once again, science has triumphed in the fight against coronavirus.

The US firm Novavax has released results of its British trial, showing the first proven efficacy against the new, more contagious UK variant.

There were more than 15,000 volunteers on the trial throughout the UK.

Over half the cases of CO bid recorded were the result of the new variant.

The results showed the vaccine was 95% effective against the original co bid strain on over 85% effective against the new UK variant, giving an overall efficacy of 89%.

The former head of the UK Vaccine Task Force, said that in a separate trial in South Africa, the vaccine had showed it protected against the variant of concern.

There is a fantastic results because it shows that the Novavax vaccine is effective against both the UK variant as well as the South African variant on has shown phenomenal efficacy on its made in Teesside.

So not only have we try Aled the vaccine to show that it's safe and effective, but we're also making it too, so we'll be able to save lives in the UK.

Meanwhile, the biggest immunization drive in the history of the NHS just keeps growing.

This supermarket pharmacy near Birmingham started offering covert jabs today to the over 75 1 of more than 1400 vaccination sites in England alone.

What a contrast in Madrid, where supplies of vaccine have all but dried up.

The Spanish capital has canceled all appointments for around two weeks.

The EU was slow off the mark in ordering vaccine on now wants some of the UK supply of AstraZeneca doses.

In May, the U.

K government was the first to sign a deal with AstraZeneca for 100 million doses off its co vid vaccine.

It wasn't until August 3 months later that the European Union signed an agreement for up to 400 million doses.

Last month, the U.

K's Machar became the first regulator in the world toe Approve the Oxford AstraZeneca jab.

Tomorrow the European Medicines Agency is meeting on is expected to approve the vaccine, but for the moment it remains unlicensed In the U, the AstraZeneca vaccine is grown in bio reactors.

I've seen how complex the processes at this site in Oxford, by contrast, they have bean poor yields at the main European site in Belgium.

EU is threatening legal action to force AstraZeneca toe hand over some doses made here.

We can and will get doses of the vaccine from theme the Siri's off plants, which are mentioned in the contract and therefore also including those in the United Kingdom.

On there's another twist.

Germany's Vaccine committee has said the AstraZeneca jab should for now not be given to people aged 65 above.

It cited insufficient evidence in how effective it is in older people.

The government here firmly rejects that our own authorities have made it very clear that they I think the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is very good on defecation.

They think that it is effective across a wage.

Groups provides a good immune response across all age groups.

There is limited evidence on how well the AstraZeneca vaccine works in the over 65 but leading scientists here say they're confident it will give strong protection on Fergus Joins me Now.

So more good news.

Another vaccine potentially Novavax.

How significant could that proved to be a huge Sophie?

Now this is already in the hands of the medical regulator.

The HR began what they call a rolling review off the data from these UK trials of the Novavax vaccine earlier this month on If we have, they have to prove that it's safe and effective.

If they approve it, then it will be produced here.

And it will put rocket boosters under the UK Vaccine Program, which is already outstripping most of Europe.

So it's brilliant news and the fact that it's effective, highly effective against the UK variant on less so effective but still effective against the South Africa.

One fantastic news.

You're talking just now about the AstraZeneca jab in Germany.

They're advising it not to be given to the over 65.

Should people here be worried people have had it?

Well, there's no concerns about safety.

In fact, there were fewer side effects in older people who received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in the trials.

This is about effectiveness now.

There isn't much effectiveness data from the trials.

But what the medical regulator on the scientists at Oxford On those who advised the government all, said Waas.

The immune responses of the elderly were so strong on DSO similar toe younger adults that the vaccine should be effective will get more data on that soon.

There may be a bit of vaccine nationalism here from the Germans.

They've bought up extra supplies of the fires of by on tech vaccine developed in Germany, and they will use that for those aged 65 over.

Fergus Walsh.

Thank you well, France, Portugal and Germany as just some of the U member states struggling to get hold of enough vaccine supplies, vaccinations are having to be postponed before the rollout has really begun.

Germany's health minister says the country is facing a shortage well into April and warned of a least 10 tough weeks ahead.

Jenny Hill reports on the difficulties.

Germany is facing a waiting room without any patients, a vaccination center without any vaccine.

Germany relied on the EU to place its orders.

A decision which may have come at a cost way.

Really feel it.

Here.

People keep asking us why we haven't been vaccinated yet.

At the end of the day, these are political decisions, which I have to accept.

But I am looking forward to the time when we have enough vaccine on can get on with it.

No tourists now for city guide, Theresia immunity would bring life back to marble streets, restart the German economy.

But just 2% of the population have had their first dose of the vaccine so far.

Defenders, They're good.

Even so, she tells us, it was right for the Utah order vaccine together.

If everyone in Germany gets vaccinated but not people in the countries around it, then the plague comes back over the border.

If we do it, we should do it together.

Even if we have to wait.

Months of restrictions here appear to be paying off.

Germany's infection rates are now falling, but there's really concern about the impact of new variants like those discovered in Britain or South Africa.

And while the German government has pledged to offer every citizen of vaccination by the end of the summer, that's starting to look like a very hard promise to keep.

So far, Germany's relied on the fighter by on tech vaccine.

The manufacturer has announced delays.

There were new production site here in Marburg is expected to boost output supplies to are expected from Madonna on def approved and on time, AstraZeneca, though Germany may only give it to the under 65.

We want to know what took so long.

We want to know which member states were rather reluctant in ordering together and which member states said, Hey, let's go forward I think it would have been a great sign from Germany asked the economically strongest member state to say Hey, if it's a question of money, we'll just play let's say €10 billion on the table to get things going.

Marburg vaccination center closed now that they expect supplies to arrive next week, no one's quite sure what happens after that, and even the German government warned today the next 10 weeks will be tough.