More than 200,000 people are getting a COVID-19 jab every day and the government is on course to reach its target of 13 million people vaccinated by mid-February, Matt Hancock has told Sky News.
But speaking on Sophy Ridge On Sunday, the health secretary said the pressure on the NHS was “very bad” and repeated the need for people to follow lockdown rules and stay at home, warning “we can’t let up” just because coronavirus injections are being rolled out.
He also “absolutely” backed the police in enforcing the rules, warning that “every flex can be fatal”, after two women were fined for driving five miles for a walk.
He told Ridge that the government was set to reach its target to vaccinate the elderly and most vulnerable by the middle of next month.
He said: “Yes we’re on course. The rate limiting factor at the moment is supply but that’s increasing.
“I’m very glad to say that at the moment we’re running at over 200,000 people being vaccinated every day.
“We’ve now vaccinated around one third of the over-80s in this country so we’re making significant progress but there’s still further expansion to go.
“This week we’re opening mass vaccination centres. Big sites for instance at Epsom racecourse, there’s seven going live this week with more to come next week where we will get through very large numbers of people.”