The Telegraph
Boris Johnson fights to reopen schools before Easter EU threatens to block exports of Pfizer Covid vaccine Coronavirus latest news: Quarantine hotels set to be high-risk countries only William Hague: Constitutional tinkering won't stop SNP juggernaut Subscribe to The Telegraph for a month-long free trial The EU's threat to block exports of the Belgian-made Pfizer vaccines will not affect the UK's supply, a minister has pledged this morning. Brussels last night imposed tighter controls on exports after becoming embroiled in a row with AstraZeneca, with the drugs company expected to deliver 50 million fewer doses to the EU than expected. This morning German health minister Jens Spahn backed the EU's stance, saying Europe should have its "fair share". The UK is is expecting almost 3.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the next three weeks. Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, said he had spoken with bosses at both pharma giants, telling Sky News he was "confident they will both deliver the supplies we need to meet mid-February target and beyond that". However he dodged questions about whether he had received guarantees on deliveries. He later told the BBC "supplies are tight... they are lumpy and bumpy", but stressed that deliveries would come through. Mr Zahawi insisted relations with the EU were still positive, saying "We will always support them, they are our neighbours, friends, allies, trading partners." He added: "I think it would be very unwise for me to engage in their negotiations and their deliberations on their vaccine policy", although warned against any "vaccine nationalism". Follow the latest updates below.