Lorraine Kelly’s ITV show is cleared by watchdogs after she and Dr Hilary Jones criticised people for refusing to get a Covid jab sparking more than 100 complaints
- ITV's Lorraine attracted total of 152 complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom
- Lorraine Kelly, 61, said anti-vaxxers needed to be 'protected from themselves'
- Dr Hilary Jones, 68, said vaccine tech had been used successfully in the past
- However, viewers complained that his comments were 'materially misleading'
- But Ofcom said complaints 'did not raise issues warranting investigation'
Lorraine Kelly's show has been cleared by TV watchdogs after she and Dr Hilary Jones criticised people for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
An episode of the presenter's ITV morning programme, which aired last month, attracted 152 complaints to broadcasting regulator Ofcom.
Lorraine had said those declining to get jabbed needed to be 'protected from themselves' and Dr Hilary spoke about the safety of vaccines.
The GP claimed the technology had been successfully used in the past and insisted the public had nothing to fear from the vaccination programme.
However, viewers complained that his comments were 'materially misleading'.
After assessing the complaints Ofcom has decided not to take further action because 'they did not raise issues warranting investigation'.
Lorraine Kelly's show has been cleared by TV watchdogs after she and Dr Hilary Jones criticised people for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Lorraine (pictured left) had said those declining to get jabbed needed to be 'protected from themselves' and Dr Hilary (pictured right) spoke about the safety of vaccines
On the show which was broadcast on July 12, Lorraine, 61, said: 'To the people that are still wary of it and think this vaccine is a terrible thing and they are in terrible danger, it's just really, you want to tear your hair out.
'The government are saying "We are going to rely on the common sense of the British people".
'Well most people do have common sense, some don't though and have to be protected from themselves.'
Dr Hilary, 68, said: 'They don't understand science, they won't listen to reason, they get this idea in their heads and they stick with it.
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'They read the conspiracy theorist rubbish on social media and they become completely obsessed with the idea that the government are trying to take over their brain.
'It's absolutely absurd and unfortunately those people have a very strong voice.'
He added: 'It doesn't affect the DNA of your cells, it can't affect your fertility, it can only protect you, it's a win, win, win, win, win. There's no downside.
'The risk of the virus is far, far worse than the vaccination so think about it again.'
An Ofcom spokesperson: 'Our rules allow for rigorous debate around the response to Coronavirus - including on the vaccination programme, consistent with the right to freedom of expression.
'In our view, Dr Hilary offered a medically informed opinion on the safety of vaccines, and his comments would have been within the audience's expectations, as his views on the merits of vaccination are well-known.'
It comes after dozens of anti-vaccine protesters attempted to storm the BBC's west London studios yesterday, prompting violent clashes with police - with at least one making it inside.
The protest, organised by anti-lockdown group Official Voice, is believed to have been directed against vaccine passports and jabs for children.
The protesters started at Shepherds Bush Green at around 1pm before making the short journey to the BBC Studioworks site in White City.
Currently, the site is used by BBC Studioworks with ITV live programmes such as This Morning and Loose Women filmed there, as well as some live BBC shows. The BBC Worlds News is filmed nearby.
However, the main BBC News programme is filmed at Broadcasting House in Portland Place, Westminster.
The BBC sold the site to property developers Stanhope plc in 2013, and the site now mostly contains homes and entertainment and leisure facilities.
No arrests have been made and an officer sustained a 'minor' facial injury during the demonstration, which is being investigated, the Metropolitan Police said.
One of the ringleaders appeared to be DJ Pat Wilson, who proudly posted a picture of himself on Instagram holding up his 'demands' inside the building.
He said afterwards: 'We want to make a noise, the right noise. We will see what happens now.'
Later in a speech to the march he added: 'A group of us lot set this up, but we're not the leaders we don't want to tell you lot where to go or what to do.'
Former Coronation Street actor Sean Ward was also at the protest and posted footage from the roadside.
Loose Women presenter Charlene White took to Twitter to reveal that the protesters tried to access the site while they were on air. She wrote: 'Huge thanks to Andy and the security team over at Television Centre.
'The protesters attempted to gain access to the building while we were live on air with @loosewomen - and we’ve only just left, because of safety. Andy and his team were just incredible, thank-you.'
More than three quarters of adults in Britain have now received both Covid vaccine doses... but expert warns herd immunity is 'mythical'
More than three quarters of adults in the UK have now received their first vaccine dose, official Covid statistics show.
Boris Johnson praised the country's 'huge national achievement' in ensuring more than 39.7million over-18s are fully protected against the virus.
Department of Health data shows 47.1million (89 per cent) have had a first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca jab.
Hailing the figures, the Prime Minister said: 'Our incredible vaccine roll-out has now provided vital protection against the virus to three quarters of all UK adults.
'This is a huge national achievement, which we should all be proud of.
'It's so important that those who haven't been vaccinated come forward as soon as possible to book their jab — to protect themselves, protect their loved ones and allow us all to enjoy our freedoms safely.'
Despite the huge success of the roll-out, one expert advising the Government today told MPs achieving herd immunity was 'mythical'.
Sir Andrew Pollard, chair of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Coronavirus that it is not possible for vaccines to provide enough immunity to stop the spread of the virus among people who have yet to have a jab.
He emphasised the job of vaccines is to minimise severe disease and death from the virus.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured today, left, with NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard at Milton Keynes University Hospital) praised the NHS for reaching the 75 per cent milestone for double doses and encouraged more people to come forward for a jab
All adults in the UK are able to get their second doses after eight weeks. This will mean every adult has the chance to have two doses by mid-September. Graph shows: Proportion of people in each age group who have had their first vaccine dose
Second doses are still lagging behind in younger age groups. Graph shows: Proportion of people in each age group who have had their second vaccine dose
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Data from Public Health England (PHE) shows Pfizer's vaccine is 96 per cent effective at cutting the risk of infected people getting hospitalised.
AstraZeneca's jab is around 92 per cent effective.
Health chiefs estimate that the vaccines have already saved around 60,000 lives, and prevented 22million infections and 66,900 hospitalisations.
But the jabs are less effective at stopping transmission, especially in the face of the extra-transmissible Delta variant.
Many virologists believe the coronavirus will never be eradicated and will instead become endemic, meaning the illness will circulate for generations.
They say people will gradually build-up immunity through repeated vaccinations and natural infection.
As a result, symptoms of the virus will eventually resemble that of a common cold.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid praised the NHS for reaching the 75 per cent milestone for double doses and encouraged more people to come forward for a jab.
He said: 'Three in four adults across the UK have now had both doses of the vaccine, which is incredible and a testament to the fantastic work of the NHS, volunteers and everyone involved in the rollout.
'Getting two doses of a Covid vaccine is the key to enjoying a host of new freedoms safely – whether that be to enjoy a trip abroad with family or a night out with friends – as we continue to build our wall of protection.
'The vaccines are allowing us to reconnect with the things we love, but more than that, they're protecting the people we love too.
'Please make sure to come forward for your jab if you haven't already as soon as possible.'
All adults in the UK are able to get their second doses after eight weeks. This will mean every adult has the chance to have two doses by mid-September.
People will be required to prove they've had two jabs to enter nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather by the end of September.
From August 16, double vaccinated people will also no longer be required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive Covid case.
People will continue to be advised to take a PCR test and anyone who tests positive will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
And speaking to MPs this morning, Professor Pollard warned vaccines alone could not ensure herd immunity.
He said: 'What we know very clearly with the coronavirus that this current variant, the Delta variant, will still infect people who have been vaccinated and that means that anyone who is unvaccinated will meet the virus.
'It might not be this week, this month or this year but they will meet the virus.
'I think we are in a situation here with this current variant where herd immunity is not a possibility because it still infects vaccinated individuals.'
Chair of the APPG on Coronavirus Layla Moran MP said: 'The worrying evidence we heard today suggests that given the emergence of new variants, including vaccine-resistant ones, achieving herd immunity is just a pipe dream.
'The government's plan to learn to live with Covid cannot become a byword for abdicating responsibility to the most vulnerable.
'Ministers must re-evaluate their approach and come up with a new and comprehensive, long-term plan to mitigate the risks posed by Covid and new variants.
'That must include showing moral leadership and stepping up efforts to vaccinate the world.'
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