Anti-vaxxers storm government building where Covid vaccine got green light

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Violent protesters today tried to storm a government office housing some of the country’s leading vaccine experts.

Videos posted on social media from the scene show the demonstrators clashing with police in the Canary Wharf area of London.

A large crowd attempted to gain entry to the headquarters the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the body responsible for authorising Covid-19 jabs.

A livestream of the incident showed hundreds marching through the area towards the office before a smaller group tried to force the door open.

They were prevented from getting in by a handful of security guards on the other side before being pushed back by a column of police officers after a physical struggle.

One officer can be seen throwing a punch at one of the protesters after being struck in the face.

More police arrived to secure the building but protesters remained outside for at least an hour listening to speeches over a loudspeaker.

The Metropolitan Police said five of its officers were injured in the clashes and branded demonstrators’ behaviour ‘unacceptable’.

Police officers had to force there way through the crowd to prevent protesters getting inside (Picture: LNP)

Video posted on social media showed violent clashes as officers sought to regain control of the situation (Picture: LNP)

Hundreds were filming marching towards the office in Canary Wharf (Picture: LNP)

The force later tweeted: ‘We have made 10 arrests while policing this protest group. They originally gathered at Canary Wharf and then travelled to South Kensington.’

Footage on social media showed the group travelling to Kensington by train, where they were met by more officers and more violence broke out.

A large crowd then gathered outside the Science Museum, where they learned the government will not vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds.

The MHRA received global praise when it became the first health agency in the world to approve a Covid-19 vaccine.

Experts fast-tracked protocols to sign off the lifesaving Pfizer jab in December 2020, getting the UK’s vaccine programme going before other countries.

The protest comes as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation prepares to give the government its final recommendation on the booster jab programme.

The committee’s deputy chairman Professor Anthony Harnden said this week that it is ‘highly likely’ there will be a booster programme, but a final decision has not been made.

He said the committee is awaiting the results of the Cov-Boost study, which is looking at different vaccines to see what immune responses they give and whether jabs can be mixed and matched.

The MHRA is responsible for assessing the safety and efficacy of new medical treatments (Picture: AFP)

Ministers are preparing to begin the programme this month in order raise immunity levels in older and vulnerable people before the winter.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has urged the government to begin the programme as soon as possible.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Friday: ‘I understand why scientists are taking their time but I think in a pandemic politicians can also read the rooms and see the direction of travel.

‘I think Anthony Harnden, on your programme yesterday gave a very clear hint… that they are likely to recommend boosters.

‘In a pandemic I think even a few days can make a big difference. So I think we should just get on, not wait for that advice, get on with a booster programme.’

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