Adil Ray erupts as GMB guest interrupts host in furious vaccine row: ‘I didn’t say that!’

Adil Ray clashes with GMB guest during coronavirus debate

Adil, 47, and Susanna Reid, 50, were on hand to host Good Morning Britain and one of the topics of conversation was the latest developments with regards to the pandemic. The Government has recently said members of the public should take the vaccine if they’re offered it as 86 local authorities across the UK are now reporting cases of the variant first reported in India. With the uptake of vaccinations having caused controversy before the new variant of concern appeared, the ITV presenter urged viewers to listen to the advice being issued but he was interrupted by a medical expert.

The broadcaster said: “Ultimately, the message must be to go and get the vaccine. And I think what Matt Hancock has probably done here and quite smartly is using this moment to encourage people that there is one way through this and that is to have the vaccine.”

Doctor Zubaida Haque interrupted as she disagreed with Adil, stating: “[Vaccines] are not the only way [out of the pandemic].”

“It’s not the only way but it is one way,” the presenter reiterated with the guest adding: “I’m sorry, Adil, but it is not the only way.”

Having been cut off mid-flow, the broadcaster told the independent SAGE medical expert: “I didn’t say that, I said it’s one way, not the only way.

“I cannot understand why you wouldn’t encourage personal responsibility,” he remarked as the clash continued.

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Adil Ray erupts as GMB guest interrupts host in furious vaccine row: ‘I didn’t say that!’ (Image: ITV)

Good Morning Britain: Adil Ray shared his views on the vaccine uptake (Image: ITV)

“The problem at the moment is vaccine hesitancy is being used as a red herring,” the medical expert explained.

Taking to Twitter, those watching at home reacted, with one writing: “The government should make it compulsory to have the vaccine.”

Another posted: “Small groups of areas that refuse the vaccine shouldn’t stop the rest of us from getting back to normal. And closing the country is impossible we would run out of lots of goods and foods, this vaccine can come on trucks not just planes, small groups can not stop the majority.”

Whilst a third commented: “For whatever reason people choose not to have the vaccine, should not affect the lives and liberty of those who are intelligent enough to take the vaccine. It’s covidiots who are anti-vax that will prolong restrictions.”

Good Morning Britain: Doctor Zubaida Haque defended those not having the vaccine (Image: ITV)

I didn’t say that

Adil Ray

Asked if the easing of lockdown restrictions should be paused while people get vaccinated, Dr Zubaida said: “It’s not about unfairness.

“It’s about a matter of public health safety. At the moment, we have approximately two-thirds of the population who are either partially vaccinated or not vaccinated at all.

“This isn’t about vaccine hesitancy. Matt Hancock has suggested that this is about vaccine hesitancy but at the moment, his conclusions seemed to be based on the hospitalisations of Bolton.

“That’s 18 people of which a third have been vaccinated and he’s suggesting 11 or 12 didn’t have the vaccine when they were offered it.”

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Adil Ray quizzes GMB guest on ‘irresponsible’ vaccine choice

“But we don’t know why they didn’t take up their vaccine,” the medical professional explained, stating there could have been a range of reasons why the vaccine wasn’t taken.

“This notion at the moment that everyone’s freedom is threatened because of vaccine hesitancy groups is absolute nonsense.

“The main threat at the moment is that this virus, this variant, is highly transmissible. It’s 50 percent more transmissible than the Kent variant.

“It is readily spreading across the country and we have over 40 areas in the UK that now have this variant.”

“And we know places like Bolton and Bedford and Blackburn now have the Indian variant as the dominant variant,” Dr Zubaida explained.

Despite the increase in cases of the Indian variant, Monday saw the next easing of lockdown restrictions take place as people are now allowed to eat out indoors.

Overnight stays can now happen between two households and six people can meet within a domestic setting.

However, the deadline of June 21 to remove social distancing measures and to exit lockdown completely could now be delayed due to the new variant.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.