THE BBC cut away from the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing this afternoon as Jason Leitch was about to respond to concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine.
On the BBC News channel the briefing was replaced by an interview with Boris Johnson, while on BBC One Scotland the programme went to analysis from journalists and a public health expert, before showing an interview with Douglas Ross.
The channels often cut away from the briefings and recommend viewers turn to BBC Scotland to see the full Q&A, but that channel was not airing anything at all.
The UK medical regulator is considering making a decision on restricting use of the AstraZeneca jag among younger people, amid concerns over blood clots.
Due to the election period, Nicola Sturgeon is not presenting coronavirus briefings every day and is instead hosting them when there is significant news to share with the population.
Today the BBC broadcast the update on BBC One Scotland and the BBC News channel as the First Minster set out plans to get secondary school pupils back into classrooms after the Easter break.
Following her usual statement, she, alongside the chief nursing officer and national clinical director, responded to queries from journalists.
A reporter asked the First Minister for her views on domestic vaccine passports before turning to Professor Jason Leitch on the AstraZeneca developments.
As the First Minister finished her response, Leitch started to give his take on the AstraZeneca safety situation. But on both BBC One Scotland and BBC News, the national clinical director was cut off.
On the main BBC News channel, the programme instead went to Boris Johnson speaking from the AstraZeneca factory in Macclesfield.
In the clip he praises AstraZeneca’s cancer drug-making abilities and exporting capacity. On the vaccine he said the “best thing people should do is look at what the MHRA say” – which is to continue getting the first and second vaccines.
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On BBC One Scotland, there was an interview with NHS Grampian head of health intelligence, Jillian Evans, before Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross was invited on. He called for the easing of restrictions to be brought forward.
Online, viewers were unhappy with the approach. “Absolutely shocking to cut short the Covid experts answering media questions,” one user wrote.
“Can someone, anyone, explain why today’s Covid briefing by Nicola Sturgeon on BBC was cut short, just as questions were about to be answered by Jason Leitch the national clinical director, to cut to studio ‘analysis’?” another person asked.
“BBC Scotland cut away mid question to Jason Leitch from @GlennBBC, disgraceful,” commented Kenny Armet, who recommended watching the full briefing on the Scottish Government Twitter account.
“Why did the BBC cut away from the journalist questions? Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. I along with thousands of others no doubt are interested in the Q&A session,” said Mary Harley.
A spokesperson for the BBC told The National: "Our coverage on BBC One Scotland included the First Minister’s statement in full and was followed by analysis and reaction.
"Covid briefings in the election period will be covered in this way on BBC One Scotland, as we have indicated previously. Throughout the pandemic we have covered significant news stories and developments for our audiences across all of our output and this comprehensive reporting will continue."
The SNP have been contacted for comment.
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