NEW Priti Patel pointed the finger at the firms after the daily rate fell for a third consecutive day, saying 'upgrades' at factories and 'reconfiguring' of supply chains were causing delays. But she insisted 'incredible' progress was being made with more than four million people already covered, and it is still possible to keep to the schedule. The intervention came amid mounting confusion about the source of the problem, with just 204,000 people given their first dose yesterday, down from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday. In order to meet the target the government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials abruptly getting more anxious. Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade which will continue into next month, but there have been claims that 21million doses are already in the country, and Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of sitting on around 400,000 that have been delivered. MPs have also voiced frustration at the way supplies have been divvied out across the UK. In London the allocation is believed to have been based on takeup of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low. Meanwhile, there are complaints that the system is descending into a 'free for all' with council staff being given jabs before 70-somethings in some areas. The chaos has fuelled fears that lockdown measures will have to last longer, with suggestions that the earliest timetable for a significant easing has slipped 'beyond Easter'.
Slow vaccine rollout could make lockdown last PAST Easter as Priti Patel blames AstraZeneca and Pfizer factory upgrades and supply chains - even though '21million doses are already in the UK' and Scotland 'is sitting on 400k'
