Moderna jab rollout starts

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First Moderna jab

The third coronavirus vaccine will be rolled out across Wales from today, after the first Moderna supplies arrived. The jab was approved back in January and the UK has ordered 17 million doses in total. It’s good timing - delays to shipments of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine means we’ll have fewer doses available in April.

Growth forecast raised

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the UK economy will grow 5.3% in 2021, after last year’s record slump. That’s higher than its previous prediction of 4.5%, and means we’re set to outpace the Eurozone economy. It also reckons UK GDP will get back to its pre-pandemic size by 2022.

Vaccine passport backlash

Pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs have hit back against possible plans to check punters’ Covid status on entry. They feel the hospitality sector is being unfairly targeted, and say the plans would lose them money. The government is still considering the possibility of a scheme to show proof of a vaccine dose, a recent negative test, or antibodies from having coronavirus.

Rich list

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk top the Forbes rich list*, while Donald Trump has fallen 300 places after losing $1 billion during his time in office. Others did better; 86% of billionaires have got richer during the pandemic

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