BRITAIN is already gearing up for Covid-19 booster jab rollout and have already set the ball in motion by ordering for 35m Pfizer booster shots to be delivered in the second half of next year.
The latest order has raised eyebrows when already by last week Britain had more than 500m covid vaccine orders with eight vaccine makers.
The country's order of booster shots from Pfizer suggests a dimished role for Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the next rollout.
Clive Dix, the former interim chair of the vaccine taskforce told The Telegraph that the AstraZeneca jab is still the best, but its hard to ignore its "tarnished reputation" over the few cases of blood clots related to the jab.
"I would personally just say let's boost with the AstraZeneca vaccine this year, which we have available and which is a very good vaccine - and only then should we start thinking about next year," he was quoted as saying.
The use of the AstraZeneca jabs has reduced across Europe, with few jabs also being rolled out for people of the UK. This has triggered questions about the the future of AstraZeneca vaccines.
AstraZeneca's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, has said the "goal initially was really to come in and help" and added: "For us it was to come in and help, deliver this vaccine, and then go back to our core business."
There are reports of mounting pressure from shareholders for the company to exit the vaccine space.
The reduced demand for AstraZeneca jabs in the UK, US and Europe is good news for rest of the world as the firm can divert the supplies to countries who need the shots.
It is already playing a leading role as earlier this month, AstraZeneca had delivered 91m doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the Covax scheme, which distributes vaccines to developing countries.
According to recent data, Pfizer's effectivity reduces over time while AstraZeneca's does less quickly. Therefore experts say AstraZeneca's work should not be written off too early.
Sir John Bell, the Oxford vaccine tsar, said the government could be "over-purchasing because no one knows where this goes next." He added, "As we know, they won’t necessarily use it."
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)