Harm to AstraZeneca jab’s reputation ‘probably killed thousands’

When the AstraZeneca jab was rolled out in the UK government advisers recommended under-40 should be offered an alternative due to a link to rare blood clots. Photograph: Robin Utrecht/Rex/Shutterstock

Scientists and politicians “probably killed hundreds of thousands of people” by damaging the reputation of the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to an Oxford scientist who worked on the jab.

Prof John Bell said: “They have damaged the reputation of the vaccine in a way that echoes around the rest of the world.”