The coronavirus vaccine will eventually become like an annual flu shot that is updated as the disease mutates, the Health Secretary has said.
Matt Hancock used a Downing Street press conference to predict that members of the public could be due a Covid shot each year from a clinic "as the NHS does every autumn" for flu.
His comments came as Dr Susan Hopkins, of NHS England, said future vaccines for different mutations of the virus are more likely to be administered as a booster shot than as a whole new course of the jab.
The Health Secretary said: "For 40 years we have had a flu vaccination programme, and every year the flu jab is updated to make sure it is as effective as possible against new variants.
"This is a standard part of what the NHS does every autumn to protect us against the flu.
"I hope through this vaccination programme, and through the work we are doing with the vaccines manufacturers and the scientists, we will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine to the same place."
Mr Hancock also said the UK had taken a "no regrets" approach to vaccine procurement, and would share its 400 million-strong vaccine stockpile with the rest of the world once Britain had been protected.He stressed that the AstraZeneca jab, produced in the UK, was the most viable option for poorer countries and was produced at cost
Read the latest updates below
05:40 PM
Covid vaccines could become like annual flu jabs, says Hancock
Matt Hancock says the Covid vaccine schedule could become like the flu vaccine programme in time, with annual booster shots
"For 40 years we have had a flu vaccination programme, and every year the flu jab is updated to make sure it is as effective as possible against new variants," he says.
"This is a standard part of what the NHS does every autumn to protect us against the flu.
"I hope through this vaccination programme, and through the work we are doing with the vaccines manufacturers and the scientists, we will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine to the same place.
"Doing that does mean building that manufacturing capability on shore, which is the task that is under way right now.
It also means getting the science right, as Dr Hopkins has set out. That is the goal here."
05:32 PM
Hancock: Cases coming down but hospital numbers still 10,000 above peak
Mr Hancock says restrictions on schools have been taken with a "heavy heart" but the virus is still "widespread".
Ten thousand more people are in hospital than in the original peak, he says, but the case load "does seem to be coming down".
Dr Hopkins says the South African variant cases are not currently considered linked, since they are in different parts of the country. They are thought to have been brought here by people without symptoms.
She adds that people who have been vaccinated already would not need to restart the programme if a new vaccine was introduced.
"It is much more likely that it would be a booster shot a bit like the annual flu vaccine," she says.
05:28 PM
Tougher restrictions not needed in areas where variant is rife, suggests Hancock
Gordon Rayner, the Telegraph's political editor, asks why the areas where the South African variant has been identified are not locked down more tightly.
"Of course we are always looking at what we need to do. There is already a national lockdown in place...and we would expect people to adhere to that," he says.
"Of course further measures are always there but we already have this very strong set of rules.
"What I would say, is if you are in an area where a new variant has been found, then stay at home and let's get this new variant under control."
Mr Hancock, Prof Powis and Dr Hopkins all said they had not been vaccinated.
05:26 PM
Unpaid carer important in drive to protect public, says Hancock
A journalist from Carer's World asks the Heath Secretary what assurances he can give that unpaid carers will be prioritised in the vaccine drive.
Guidance initially only placed paid carers into a priority band for the vaccine.
"We have looked very closely into where the right place for unpaid carers is in the vaccination list..I can absolutely give you assurances that unpaid carers are at the heart of policy making," he says.
Prof Stephen Powis highlights the value of unpaid carers in allowing people to be discharged from hospital, freeing up beds in the NHS.
05:20 PM
PHE doctor: Three vaccines protect patients from South African variant
Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins says that three vaccines that have been tested so far have been found to have a high degree of effectiveness against the South African variant.
The level of protection against hospitalisation and death is higher than the threshold set by the WHO, she says.
She adds that the public must continue to stay at home and follow the hands, face, space guidance.
Scientists continue to monitor cases in the UK and look for new variants, she says.
05:18 PM
NHS on target to hit Feb 15 target, says Prof Powis
Prof Stephen Powis says the NHS is on target to hit its February 15 target for vaccinating people in the top priority groups.
He describes the vaccine drive as a "big challenge" but points out that hundreds of people per day are now receiving the jab.
05:15 PM
Ministers 'confident' second doses of Pfizer vaccines will be administered, says Hancock
Elizabeth from Bradford asks the Health Secretary how the Government can be sure that people who received their first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will receive a second dose, given issues in the EU.
Mr Hancock says he and other ministers have a "high degree of confidence" that the supplies will continue, and points out that many of the vaccines are manufactured in the UK.
He stresses that people who are contacted by the NHS must accept the vaccine.
05:12 PM
Officials 'coming down hard' on South African variant
Hancock - PA
Mr Hancock says the UK "needs to come down hard" on the new South African variant of the virus, and is testing people in local areas that are thought to be affected.
People who live in London and Surrey postcodes have been affected and may be contacted by a door-to-door tester, he says.
"We've got to bring this virus to heel," he adds.
05:10 PM
UK vaccines will be handed out to other countries when Britain is protected
Matt Hancock says he is pleased the UK has ordered another 40 million vaccines from Valneva, which will be manufactured in Livingston, Scotland.
The Health Secretary says the Government is taking a "no regrets" approach and over-ordering vaccines.
He says he is "of course" delighted the vaccine drive is going well, and the main reason he is pleased with the AstraZeneca vaccine contract is that it can be deployed to the poorest parts of the world.
"We will play our part to help the poorest people around the world," he says.
05:07 PM
Health Secretary gives vaccine update
Matt Hancock kicks off today's press conference by giving an update on the vaccine drive.
9.2 million people have now been vaccinated
931,204 vaccines were administered this weekend - one in every 60 adults
Nine in ten over the over 80s have been vaccinated, and over half of people in their 70s
All residents of eligible care homes with elderly residents have been offered the jab
Mr Hancock said he is "filled with pride" that the NHS has managed what he calls a "wonderful achievement".
04:39 PM
Matt Hancock to lead Downing St press conference at 5pm
Matt hancock - AFP
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, will lead a Downing Street press conference on Monday afternoon.
He will be joined by NHS England's Professor Stephen Powis and Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins.
You can watch the press conference live on the stream at the top of this blog.
04:21 PM
Government announces 406 more Covid-19 deaths
The Government said a further 406 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday, bringing the UK total to 106,564.
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 123,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.
The Government also said that, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 18,607 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.
This is the lowest reported daily total of new cases since December 15, when 18,450 cases were recorded.
It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 3,835,783.
03:58 PM
Ireland 'does not need' vaccines from UK
Ireland will not need excess UK vaccines as a pledged ramp up in EU deliveries will enable the country to meet its inoculation targets, political sources have said.
Like many EU member states, the vaccination roll-out has ground to a halt as a supply crunch across the bloc has choked deliveries to Ireland.
Ireland had the second highest rate of vaccinations per capita in the EU up to the end of last week as official figures show that 3 per cent of the population have been inoculated – 77,000 frontline health workers and 66,000 residents of elderly care facilities.
Dublin had been heavily reliant on the AstraZeneca vaccine to meet its target of fully vaccinating 700,000 people by the end of March.
France denies EU Covid vaccine fiasco is 'best advertisement for Brexit'
France’s Europe minister Clément Beaune on Monday was forced to deny the EU’s handling of the vaccine crisis was “the best advertisement for Brexit”, instead claiming Britain was taking dangerous risks his country would not take due to its "difficult sanitary situation".
Reiterating doubts voiced in Germany and by French president Emmanuel Macron over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mr Beaune said the UK had left itself heavily exposed with reliance on one vaccine - suggesting the strategy could backfire.
In an interview on France Inter, Mr Beaune was asked to comment on the fact that Britain had vaccinated "nine million people and France only 1.5 million".
“Isn’t European management of the vaccines the best advertisement for Brexit?” said the interviewer.
“I don’t think so,” said Mr Beaune. “This has nothing to do with Brexit.”
Have your say: When should UK factories supply the EU?
The vaccine row appeared to peak on Friday night, when the EU triggered Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol, after a series of hostile comments by leaders such as Emmanuel Macron.
The decision was quickly reversed but not before causing some considerable damage, both to the EU's reputation and faith in the protocol.
Last night Ursula von der Leyen said she had secured assurances from Boris Johnson that the EU could receive vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca factories in Britain (see below). The PM himself has stressed the need for a global approach to immunisation in order to successfully fight the global spread of the virus.
But should UK factories supply the EU, and if so, when? Have your say in the poll below.
03:36 PM
Nick Timothy: Britain needs more AstraZenecas if we are to thrive in the future
Almost seven years ago, Pfizer launched its bid to take over AstraZeneca, Britain’s second biggest pharmaceutical company. After a tense stand-off, and no little controversy, the AstraZeneca board stood firm, Pfizer opted not to “go hostile” by taking its bid to shareholders, and the company remained independent and based in Britain.
Yet things could have turned out very differently. Pfizer might have made a direct offer to AstraZeneca shareholders. Or the AstraZeneca board might have accepted the bid: they told Pfizer they would have negotiated had the offer been higher. Had a sale been agreed, George Osborne, then Chancellor, would not have intervened. It was, he said, simply a commercial matter. Without AstraZeneca, Britain might not have had a reliable supply of home-produced Covid vaccines.
The security of supply made possible by Oxford University’s collaboration with a British company, together with the arbitrary and erratic decisions made by the European Union over the last week, has led many Conservative MPs to a policy position they would have resisted in the days before the pandemic. There is such thing as a strategically important industry, they now accept, and such thing as a strategically important company.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry said she had been "sacked" from her party's front bench team at Westminster, as a reshuffled was announced.
The reshuffle revealed that Anne McLaughlin has now been appointed as the party's Westminster spokeswoman on justice and immigration.
The reshuffle saw four SNP MPs join the party's frontbench team in the Commons, with Patricia Gibson becoming spokeswoman for housing, communities and local government, while Angela Crawley takes on the role of shadow spokeswoman for the Attorney General.
In a statement, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said they party had a "wealth of talent and experience", and that the reshuffle "ensures we are in the best possible position to hold the UK Government to account during this global pandemic and the aftermath of Brexit, to support colleagues ahead of the Scottish elections, and to deliver independence".
Despite hard work, results & a strong reputation I’ve been sacked today from @theSNP front bench. My constituents & fellow party members who gave me a resounding mandate in recent NEC elections should rest assured that I will continue to work hard for them.
Boris Johnson 'optimistic' about prospect of summer holidays
Boris Johnson has said he is "optimistic" that people will be able to go on holiday this summer, as long as the vaccines start to keep Covid under control.
The Prime Minister hailed the news that "all elderly care homes residents - virtually all - have had their first jab, or a slot for their first jab" during a visit to a vaccination centre in West Yorkshire.
Asked what that means for allowing a return to normality, he said: "I don't want to give too much concrete by way of dates for our summer holidays. I am optimistic - I understand the reasons for being optimistic - but some things have got to go right.
"The vaccine programme has got to continue to be successful. We have got to make sure we don't get thrown off course by new variants, we have got to make sure that we continue to keep the disease under control and the level of infections come down."
The rollout of the vaccination programme has been "phenomenal", he added, although declined to be drawn on whether the Government would meet its targets.
"It is still, relatively speaking, early days," he added.
02:41 PM
Labour renews calls for teachers to be vaccinated after top four cohorts
Labour has renewed calls for the Government to start vaccinating teachers and school staff once the rollout of the jab to the most vulnerable groups is complete.
Speaking during a visit to south London, party leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "The reason for that is not because teachers and school staff are more at risk. It is because of the disruption that will be caused to schools if they are not vaccinated.
"What we saw in the autumn was schools being open but actually being highly disrupted because children are in one week and out the next week.
"That cannot be our ambition for March 8. So this is to make the get-back-to-school real and workable."
However critics have pointed out that Labour's position would divert vaccines away from other vulnerable groups - and would not prevent children from transmitting the virus to their parents.
SIr Keir Starmer visits Albert House in Woolwich, south London - AFP
02:37 PM
Making up gaps in education is 'biggest challenge', Boris Johnson says
Repairing damage caused to children's education is the "biggest challenge" for the Government, Boris Johnson has said, adding he is "lost in admiration" at the efforts of parents home-schooling their children.
Schools had been expected to reopen after the February half-term but have been pushed back to at least March 8, when it is hoped the vaccine rollout will have made sufficient progress through the most vulnerable groups.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Batley, West Yorkshire: "I think this is the biggest challenge for the Government at the moment, it's not just the vaccine rollout, not just the NHS difficulties, which remain very severe, but making up that shortfall in education.
"We want to repair any damage or any loss, any detriment to kids' education as fast as possible."
Boris Johnson visited a vaccination centre in Batley, Yorkshire today - WPA Pool
02:10 PM
No decision on life after lockdown, Boris Johnson admits
Boris Johnson said he had not taken a decision on whether there would be a return to the tier system following the lockdown, and a national approach was an option.
He told reporters: "It may be that a national approach, going down the tiers in a national way, might be better this time round, given that the disease is behaving much more nationally.
"If you look at the way the new variant has taken off across the country, it's a pretty national phenomenon.
"The charts I see, we're all sort of moving pretty much in the same sort of way, I mean there are a few discrepancies, a few differences, so it may be that we will go for a national approach but there may be an advantage still in some regional differentiation as well. I'm keeping an open mind on that."
Boris Johnson talks to Christopher Nicholls, who suffered from coronavirus at the same time as the Prime Minister last spring - Reuters
02:08 PM
Care home visits could be restarted before second doses of vaccine, says minister
Visits to care homes could be started before residents are given their second dose of the Covid vaccine, a health minister has said today.
Helen Whately, the social care minister told BBC Breakfast: "We do want to be able to enable people to begin visiting again, to hold hands and hug each other. Right now it is too soon - residents have only just been vaccinated, it takes time to build up immunity and we have really high rates of Covid still."
Asked if that meant visits would not restart before second doses were given out - up to 12 weeks from now - she added: "I am not saying that - we are doing what can we to allow more visiting to start again.... I know how important it is to for physical and mental health."
Ministers are also waiting for "community rates to come down further", she added. "That is the biggest risk to care homes."
Speaking later, however, Boris Johnson stressed the focus on getting the second dose of the vaccine to care home residents.
02:06 PM
Surge testing underway as South African variant spreads within England
Residents in parts of England are to be urgently tested for Covid-19 after it emerged that the South African strain of the virus may have started spreading in the community.
There have been 11 cases of the variant identified across England with no links to travel, including two in Surrey, one in Ealing and one in Kent.
Households in the ME15 postcode will be visited by staff from Kent Police, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent Fire and Rescue and other support agencies.
Earlier today Boris Johnson stressed that he was confident the vaccines would be effective against all variants so far identified.
01:59 PM
Lobby latest: AstraZeneca committed to supplying 2m doses a week to UK, says No 10
AstraZeneca has committed to deliver two million doses a week to the UK - but the firm can decide what to do with anything above that amount, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The contracts between the EU and manufacturers are a matter for them.
"But we have said clearly - and AstraZeneca have said - how many doses, the two million, that they will make available to us. We have said on a number of occasions we will ensure we get those out to as many people as we can as quickly as we can."
Asked if doses beyond the two million could go abroad, the spokesman said that would be a matter for the pharmaceutical firm and the EU. He stressed the UK was confident in its vaccine supply.
01:49 PM
Lobby latest: Too soon to say when UK will donate vaccines, says No 10
It is too soon to say when "surplus" vaccine doses could be donated to other counties, such as European Union member states, Downing Street has said.
This weekend Ursula von der Leyen said Boris Johnson had personally assured her that vaccine produced in the UK would be transported to the EU .
However the Prime Minister's official spokesman refused to say whether surplus doses would only be available once all UK adults had been offered a jab - which might not be until September - or whether vaccines could be donated once only the priority groups had been immunised by the spring.
"It's too early to discuss surplus doses," the spokesman said.
"Our priority remains to ensure that we get the vaccine out to the most vulnerable in society - groups one-four and the rest of phase one - by the spring and that's why we have set out what we will do."
Have your say: When should UK factories supply the EU? - take our poll (1:15pm)
01:46 PM
Further 356 Covid deaths reported in English hospitals
A further 356 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in English hospitals, NHS England has confirmed.
That takes the total number of confirmed reported deaths by that measure to 72,145.
Patients were aged between 22 and 103 years old. All except 20, aged 50 to 96 years old, had known underlying health conditions. The date of death ranges from 18 May 2020 to 31 January 2021 with the majority being on or after 27 January.
The Midlands was the worst-affected region, with 83 deaths, followed by the South East with 81 deaths and London, with 58.
There were 53 deaths registered in the North East & Yorkshire, 44 in the East of England, 23 in the North West and 14 in the South West.
01:36 PM
'Only the Pope is infallible', says Commission spokesman over Northern Ireland protocol row
The European Commission has admitted it was wrong to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol on Friday evening, but stressed "only the Pope is infallible".
A spokesperson said the move was taken as part of an emergency procedure to adopt texts, which it has used to respond quickly to pandemic problems, but would have resulted in a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The decision was made in principle mid-afternoon on Friday, but was Ursula von der Leyen was forced into a humiliating climbdown late on Friday after a call from Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
“I come from, from historically Catholic country. And in my country. We have a saying. Only the Pope is infallible. Mistakes can happen along the way the important thing is that you recognise them early on” said the commission’s chief spokesman.
The vaccine row appeared to peak on Friday night, when the EU triggered Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol, after a series of hostile comments by leaders such as Emmanuel Macron.
The decision was quickly reversed but not before causing some considerable damage, both to the EU's reputation and faith in the protocol.
Last night Ursula von der Leyen said she had secured assurances from Boris Johnson that the EU could receive vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca factories in Britain (see below). The PM himself has stressed the need for a global approach to immunisation in order to successfully fight the global spread of the virus.
But should UK factories supply the EU, and if so, when? Have your say in the poll below.
01:07 PM
Boris Johnson assured me EU could get vaccines from UK factories, says Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen has claimed she had secured assurances from Boris Johnson that the EU could receive vaccine supplies from AstraZeneca factories in Britain.
The European Commission president said on Sunday night that the Prime Minister had promised Britain was not seeking exclusive access to the supplies of the jab.
The British Government has never said it wanted exclusive access to the supplies. It has an agreement with AstraZeneca that stipulates that the company must supply the UK with 100million vaccines before it can ship to elsewhere.
“I was glad that he guaranteed that the two factories who produce AstraZeneca will of course supply to Europe, just as European vaccine doses for example from [Pfizer] BioNTech are being delivered to Britain,” said Mrs von der Leyen on German television on Sunday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - AFP
01:02 PM
Labour attacks Government's quarantine system as South African variant spreads in Surrey
Residents in a part of Surrey are to be urgently tested for Covid-19 after it emerged the South African strain of the virus may have started spreading in the community.
Two positive cases of the strain - which has been worrying scientists - have been identified in people with no links to travel or previous contact with those affected.
So far, 105 cases of the strain have been identified to date across the UK, but this is the first sign of wider community spread.
Some of the vaccines in use and currently going through approval have shown some effectiveness against the variant.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow home secretary, said it was "deeply worrying" as he attacked the Government's quarantine system.
Deeply worrying & shows the UK Govmt’s quarantine system isn’t working-UK is exposed to virus mutations with around 21,000 people arriving every day. Conservative MPs must vote with @UKLabour today to secure our borders against Covid & help stop vaccine progress being undermined. https://t.co/O3o8gOLfb0
Government 'very confident in supply chains' of vaccine, says Boris Johnson
The UK Government is "very confident of the supply chains that we have got", Boris Johnson has said, following suggestions that some doses could be rediverted to the EU.
The Prime Minister stressed the "international effort" that went into developing the vaccines, adding: "The UK is one of the leading, if not the leading, country advocating cross-border corporation. We are the second largest contribute to Covax."
He noted that the Oxford vaccine was being "distributed at cost" which would ensure those in poorer countries have access to it.
Asked about the efficacy of the vaccines against the South African variants, he said he was " confident that all the vaccines using provide a high degree of immunity and protection against all variants".
He added: "We are going to be living with Covid for a while to come. I don't think it will be as bad as the last 12 months, but it is very important that out vaccines continue to develop and adapt - and they will."
12:56 PM
Too early to 'take your foot off the beast', says Boris Johnson
The UK is "starting to see some signs of flattening, maybe even falling off of infections and hospital rates", but it is too soon to "take your foot off the throat of the beast", Boris Johnson has said.
The Prime Minister said while infection rates appeared to be slowing it was from a "very high level", and would require rates to come down further before restrictions are lifted.
"The risk is if you take your foot off the throat of the best, and allow things to get out of control again, you could alas see the disease starting to spread again before we have got enough vaccines into people's arms," he said.
12:48 PM
Boris Johnson marks slightly equivocal vaccine milestone
Boris Johnson has given a somewhat confused confirmation that England has hit its care home milestone, saying "all elderly care homes residents - virtually all - have been given their first jab, or a slot for their first jab".
The Prime Minister, who was speaking during a visit to a vaccination centre in West Yorkshire, said the progress of the rollout was "very important for getting the serious illness down", but was unable to confirm numbers. It is thought these will be set out by Matt Hancock during a press conference this afternoon.
Mr Johnson said: "A few [care home residents] have already had their second jab, but everyone will get one within 12 weeks. We are confident we have the supplies to do that."
Speaking just before, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that 98 per cent of care home residents had been vaccinated, emphasising that the figure related to those who had received the jab "not just been offered".
12:30 PM
Arlene Foster accused of 'sabre-rattling' as she claims protocol 'reality has bitten'
Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster has been accused of "sabre-rattling" as she repeated her view that the EU's intervention over the Northern Ireland Protocol was wrong.
She told the Northern Ireland Assembly: "Reality has bitten.
"Unionists across the length and breadth of Northern Ireland are in anguish.
"It should matter that everyone in Northern Ireland is being denied supply of trade and if they really care about all of the people of Northern Ireland, they will act."
Sinn Fein Upper Bann Assembly member John O'Dowd accused unionists of "sabre-rattling" and called for calm heads.
12:10 PM
EU told not to 'touch Northern Ireland protocol' without consultation again
The EU's bid to override part of the Northern Ireland protocol on Brexit was "a mistake that shouldn't have happened", Ireland's Foreign Minister said.
The decision, made on Friday evening as the vaccine row escalated, was swiftly reversed following condemnation from London, Dublin and Belfast.
This morning Simon Coveney told RTE's Today: "It was a mistake that everybody recognises should not have happened. I mean in simple terms, you do not touch the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland without full consultation with the people who are most impacted by it.
"The Irish government, the British government and, perhaps most importantly, political leaders in Northern Ireland."
Te incident had strengthened Unionist opposition to the protocol, which is designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland, he added.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney did not hold back in his criticism - Getty
12:03 PM
UK 'pretty close' to normal by summer, says Government adviser
The UK could be "pretty close" to normal by summer if vaccines work as hoped, a Government scientific adviser has suggested.
Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of Sage subgroup the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), said scientists believed vaccines would block transmission of coronavirus but it was not yet known by how much.
"If we think optimistically, if we follow the trajectory of the rollout of the vaccine... then hopefully we can be easing out of these controls that we've got in place sometime in March," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"But I think even with that optimistic situation, it needs to be done relatively gradually. The danger is of course as we do start to unwind controls then we offset the gains that we get from vaccination, so we need to be very careful.
"But if the vaccine rollout continues at high levels, and we do find that actually these vaccines are very good at blocking transmission as well as preventing severe infection, then we're in a good position.
"Hopefully by the summer we can get back to something pretty close to what we have seen before the pandemic was normal."
Dr Tildesley said the UK did "need to have these vaccines being pretty good at blocking transmission".
11:36 AM
'Government's own MPs do not support cut to Universal Credit', claims Labour
Labour has seized on a report published by the all-party parliamentary group on poverty as proof that Tory MPs will back their calls for the Universal Credit uplift to be extended.
The grouop – co-chaired by Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake – asks for the top up, worth £1,050 a year, to be retained beyond April and for the benefit cap to be suspended.
Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “Britain had the worst recession of any major economy because of the Government’s incompetence and indecision.
“Even the Government’s own MPs do not support the Chancellor’s planned cut to Universal Credit, taking £1000 a year from millions of families already struggling in this pandemic.
“The Government are running out of time to do the right thing, give certainty to families and secure our economy, by cancelling their disastrous cut to Universal Credit."
11:11 AM
In pictures: Boris Johnson visits a vaccination centre in West Yorkshire
The Prime Minister has visited a vaccination centre in West Yorkshire today, as the UK continues to press ahead with the rollout of its programme.
Boris Johnson speaks to members of staff as he visits a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Batley, West Yorkshire, - AP Pool
Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Batley - Getty
Boris Johnson reads a magazine as he visits a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Batley, - AP Pool
10:58 AM
Tim Stanley: The Union isn't just about keeping Scotland happy
When the next Scottish independence referendum comes, and come it will, one big difference from 2014 will be the silence of the English. Last time, we rushed north to say “please stay!”, and some of us will do so again. But fewer. Is it any wonder? We’ve had seven years of being told we’re rich Tory monsters and the average Scot hates us. This has had its effect on British self-perception. Unionists shoulder some of the blame.
When the PM visited Scotland last week, the tour was treated as politically awkward. Even some Scottish Unionists were on edge, warning that Boris embodies the qualities of England most Scots dislike.
James Brokenshire leaves hospital after 'troublesome' right lung removed
James Brokenshire, the security minister, has been discharged from hospital after "surgery to remove my somewhat troublesome right lung".
The MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup was admitted following a re-occurrence of the lung cancer that saw him step down as Northern Ireland Secretary in 2017.
"Next step rehab & recovery but keeping positive & upbeat," he said, adding: "A heartfelt thank you to the amazing NHS thoracic surgical, anaesthetist and theatre teams at Guy’s Hospital for performing my lung removal and to the incredible team on Dorcas Ward for getting me through the challenging days since. They are all superstars.
Discharged from hospital last night following surgery to remove my somewhat troublesome right lung. The care & treatment I received from our amazing #NHS & the truly heroic people working within it was utterly outstanding. Next step rehab & recovery but keeping positive & upbeat. pic.twitter.com/D2Hsb8mAoh
Matt Hancock to give Downing Street press conference today
Matt Hancock is expected to give a press conference from Downing Street this afternoon, as the UK Government confirms the completion of its care home vaccination programme.
There are a few flies in the ointment - the rollout hasn't actually been completed as there are some care homes with outbreaks, where teams have been advised not to attend. BBC Radio 4 also reported this morning at least one premises in Kent that had not been visited.
The pressure is also on to vaccinate care home staff, which was meant to be taking place simultaneously. There are lots of concerns that workers are being missed because of a reluctance to take the jab, or simply that they missed the opportunity because their shifts fell at the wrong time.
Still, the Government is rightly pleased with the progress being made, with around nine million vaccinations being delivered so far, and the Health Secretary was snapped during a celebratory jog this morning.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock jogs through Green Park this morning - Joshua Bratt
10:27 AM
Brexit and 'harsher' Covid restrictions force UK manufacturing to three-month low
Growth in the UK's manufacturing sector fell to a three-month low due to supply chain disruptions caused in the first month since the Brexit trade deal was signed with the EU, according to new data.
The closely-followed IHS Markit / CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hit 54.1 in January, down from a three-year high in December of 57.5 where many manufacturers stockpiled goods over fears of a no-deal Brexit.
Rob Dobson, director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey, said: "Whereas many countries are seeing manufacturers provide a much-needed support to economic growth as the service sector is hit by Covid-19, the UK's manufacturing sector has come close to stalling.
"A mixture of harsher Covid-19 restrictions and Brexit led to near-record supply-chain disruptions, lower exports and increased costs.
"The impact was felt most at consumer goods producers, who reported steep falls in output and new orders. There were also early signs that smaller companies were being hit harder by the tougher operating environment than medium- and larger-scale producers."
10:19 AM
UK formally applying to join Trans-Pacific trading group today
Trade minister Greg Hands has spoken with his Vietnamese counterpart to confirm that the UK will be "today formally applying to join" the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The move to join one of the world's largest trading areas has long been expected, with Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, flagging plans last autumn.
Excellent call with Vietnam Vice-Minister for Trade Khanh, to inform him in person that 🇬🇧 is today formally applying to join #CPTPP.
After the December signing of our 🇬🇧 🇻🇳 FTA, our trade relationship is flourishing and #CPTPP will move us to the next level. pic.twitter.com/jiDVOomVNV
Nicola Sturgeon's claims on slower vaccine rollout 'bogus', claims Lib Dem leader
Nicola Sturgeon is coming under further pressure over Scotland's vaccine rollout today, with the leader of the Scottish Lib Dems claiming her explanation for a slower pace is "bogus".
The First Minister has repeatedly said Scotland was lagging behind other nations because of its focus on care homes. But over the weekend Alister Jack, the Scottish secretary, claimed that nearly half of the vaccines allocated by UK Government were sitting in cold storage.
Willie Rennie said: “England’s care homes are all but done and their nationwide roll out is still racing ahead. The care home excuse was bogus.
“The gap with England is growing with Scotland even further behind," he added. “We knew this vaccine was coming so had time to prepare. We even had a warning sign when the flu campaign stumbled in the autumn yet the Scottish Government were still not ready.
“When we have vaccines in our hands it is unforgivable to leave vulnerable people without protection. People are angry that they are being left exposed to this deadly virus when the vaccine is stuck in storage."
09:49 AM
EU secures further 75m Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for spring
BioNTech and Pfizer will ramp up their coronavirus vaccine deliveries to the European Union, pledging to send up to 75 million extra doses in the second quarter, as the bloc continues to scramble for supplies.
The drugs firms said improvements in their production capabilities would allow them to speed up supplies. Previously they had warned that doses would be delayed because of modifications at the Puurs factory.
"Pfizer and BioNTech continue to work toward increased deliveries beginning the week of February 15, ensuring we will supply the full quantity of vaccine doses in the first quarter we contractually committed to and up to an additional 75 million doses to the European Union in the second quarter," they said in a statement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a conference with manufacturers amid growing anger over the bloc's vaccination programme.
Last week a major row erupted after AstraZeneca said it could deliver only a quarter of the doses originally promised to the bloc this winter because of problems at one of its European factories. Ursula von der Leyen said said last night that had been increased by 30 percent.
09:41 AM
Government urged to consider further sanctions following Myanmar coup
Labour has called for the UK Government to consider further sanctions against the Burmese military, in response to the coup in Myanmar overnight.
Aung San Suu Kyi is among those to have been detained in an early morning raid, which the army claimed was in response to "election fraud".
Lisa Nandy, shadow foreign secretary, said: “We condemn this attempt to impose political will through force. The democratic rights of the people of Myanmar must be upheld. All political prisoners should be released and the UK Government should consider further sanctions against the Burmese military.
“We continue to urge the UK Government to formally support the ICJ genocide case against Myanmar and provide greater support to Rohingya refugees.”
Piers Corbyn sparks outrage with anti-Semitic antivaxx leaflet
Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers is at the centre of a new controversy, after he was linked to anti-Semitic leaflets comparing support for the vaccine programme to the Nazi slogan 'work sets you free'.
The leaflets, apparently sent to homes in London, included a mock-up of the Evening Standard's front page with a picture resembling the gates of Auschwitz and a headline saying: "Vaccines are safe, path to freedom". The prominent antivaxxer's name and website were emblazoned on the back.
Holocaust Memorial Day was marked last Wednesday.
As if this came through our door. Antisemitism, racism, HATE.. is not tolerated in my house, or this country, or the planet Earth. pic.twitter.com/tRtZdniIpv
The leaflets were highlighted by a range of people on social media, with Labour MP Neil Coyle urging recipients to report it to the police.
Anyone who had an anti-vaccine leaflet with hideous holocaust imagery on it delivered in #SE17 today, please report it on 101 or to the Met online: https://t.co/3A6t3voQ1r People shielding/isolating/staying home don’t need crackpot conspiracy theorists knocking at their door. https://t.co/TlULh4CfCV
Valneva vaccine will support 'local jobs', minister says, after ordering another 40m doses
The Government has ordered an extra 40 million doses of the Valneva vaccine which is being manufactured in Scotland, saying it will help support jobs as well as help in the fight against Covid-19.
The UK has now ordered 100 million doses of Valneva, enough for every adult in the UK, with the latest batch earmarked for delivery in 2022, with options for a further 90 million doses for supply between 2023 and 2025.
Valneva said the total value of the entire order for the vaccine - which is still in clinical trials - was up to 1.4 billion euro (£1.24 billion).
The jab is expected to be given as two doses and is being made at a site in West Lothian, with the Government saying the new deal "will bolster long-term vaccine production in Scotland".
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, said the order would ensure "we can quickly deploy jabs across the UK if their candidate is approved, while supporting top quality, local jobs."
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "If approved, Valneva's vaccine will not only help tackle Covid-19 here in the UK, but aid our mission to ensure there is a fair supply of vaccines across the globe.
"No-one is safe till the whole world is safe."
09:02 AM
'Cultural issues' affecting care home staff vaccine take-up, says association boss
Some care home staff are refusing the Covid-19 vaccine due to "cultural issues", the National Care Association's executive chairman has said.
Nadra Ahmed told BBC Breakfast on Monday: "Some of it is to do with access and that is that people are just not able to get to where they needed to go to. If they've been coming into the care homes, the GPs have not had enough vaccine for the staff as well, they've just got enough for the residents, which is the priority.
"And some of it is to do with cultural issues and some is that people just don't want to have the vaccine.
"We have to convince people that this vaccine is for them. That it's for the staff to protect them and therefore protect the services they work in."
Last week, a cross-party group of MPs urged members of the BAME community to come forward when they are offered the jab.
Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives
When it’s your turn, please take up the vaccine to keep yourself and your community safe
Shutting borders 'a complex balance' of risks, says genomics boss
Closing borders to keep out new variants of coronavirus is a "nuanced decision" for the Government, which must also think about the economy,
Professor Sharon Peacock, executive director of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium, which first identified the British variant, described the situation as a "complex balance".
She told Times Radio: "We do know that people coming into the country could be carrying the new variant in the same way that people leaving our country could be carrying the new variant.
"Quarantine and investigating people coming into the country is an effective way that other countries have gone.
"I think we have the sequencing capability to understand what people are introducing into the country."
The Consortium is made up of the UK's four public health agencies, National Health Service organisations, academic partners and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
08:41 AM
Captain Sir Tom Moore 'inspiration for the country', says minister
Captain Sir Tom Moore has been "an inspiration for the country", a minister has said as she joined a chorus of voices wishing him well.
Sir Tom was taken to hospital on Sunday after finding it difficult to breathe. He remained on a general ward, rather than in intensive care, at his local hospital in Bedford.
He had not received a Covid vaccine because of fears it would interfere with medication he was taking for pneumonia, which he contracted "over the last few weeks". He tested positive for Covid at the end of last week.
Helen Whately, the social care minister, said: "He has been such an inspiration for the country, really lifted our spirits, through the wonderful walk he did. I really wish him well and hope he pushes through."
'Big clock is ticking' to get care home staff vaccinated, says National Care Forum
Ensuring everyone working in the care sector is offered a coronavirus vaccine over the next two weeks is a "big, big task", the executive director of the National Care Forum (NCF) has said.
Vic Rayner told Sky News on Monday that just 27 per cent of NCF member organisations had 70 per cent or more of their staff vaccinated as of early last week, adding that "access" to vaccinations was the main issue.
She said: "Now clearly if you bring a vaccination team into a home there is a great opportunity to vaccinate all the staff who are there, but staff work on shifts.
"Sometimes they might not have been available because of holidays or other issues. So I think it's about getting those staff who weren't on site vaccinated.
She added: "The priority over the next two weeks is to get the vaccine out to 1.6 million people who work across care. So it is a big, big task and a big clock is ticking away around that."
Care home staff might miss out because of shift times, warns NCF - Getty
08:31 AM
Minister hits out at Macron's AstraZeneca comments
The UK Government "does not agree" with Emmanuel Macron's suggestion that the AstraZeneca vaccine is "quasi-ineffective" in the over-65s, a minister has said.
Asked if Downing Street was asking Mr Macron to correct the record, Helen Whately told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We don't agree with that view. The [regulator] MHRA has approved it for use of all ages, as has the European Medicines Authority for use in the EU.
"We know it is effective, that is why we are suing it along with the Pfizer vaccine as part of this huge effort to vaccinate our most vulnerable."
Macron sparked fury with his comments on Friday - Reuters
08:23 AM
Macron should 'understand the science' before making vaccine comment, says JCVI prof
Emmanuel Macron's comments about the effectiveness of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for those over 65 shows he may need to learn more about the science, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said.
As the row escalated on Friday, the French president claimed the vaccine "doesn't work as expected" and appeared to be "quasi-ineffective" in the over-65s. He also criticised the UK's decision to give doses 12 weeks apart, claiming this could "accelerate the mutations" of the virus.
But this morning Professor Anthony Harnden told Good Morning Britain: "In my view the politicians need to understand the science before they make utterances like that."
He added: "This vaccine, from the data, is very very effective against hospitalisations and deaths and nearly 100 per cent effective actually.
"It is a really good safe vaccine and any older person that has received it should have absolute confidence that it is a good vaccine."
08:16 AM
Too early to talk about international vaccine support, says minister
In the wake of a row with the EU about vaccine supplies which on Friday saw the bloc forced to climb down from plans to impose a border on the island of Ireland, Boris Johnson said he wants Europe and the rest of the world to receive vaccinations "at the same time".
In a People's PMQs, filmed on Sunday, he said "there is no point one country on its own getting vaccinated", adding: "Britain, the UK, we can't think of this just as a project for us and us alone."
But this morning Helen Whatley, the social care minister, stressed this will not be considered until at least after the 1-9 groups are vaccinated.
"Right now our priority is to vaccinate people in our country, across the UK, who are most at risk from this virus," she told Sky News.
"It feels too soon to be setting out what you are talking about. We know we have to get on and use our doses to vaccinate our most vulnerable populations. I am sure the time will come to support others."
08:12 AM
Government 'very concerned' by Myanmar coup, says minister
The UK Government is "very concerned" about the military coup in Myanmar, a minister has said.
Social care minister Helen Whately said they were monitoring the situation closely after the country's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior politicians were arrested.
"It is clearly an extremely worrying situation in Myanmar. We are monitoring the situation closely," she told Sky News.
"We are very concerned about it. We clearly support democracy, support free and fair elections. We will hear from the Foreign Secretary later. The Government will be putting out a position."
Dominic Raab has tweeted his condemnation of the actions, as has Boris Johnson (see below).
The UK condemns the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar & the unlawful detention of figures in the Civilian Government and civil society by the military. The democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar must be respected, and the National Assembly peacefully re-convened.
Boris Johnson has condemned "the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians" in Myanmar.
The army said it had carried out the detentions - including the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi - in response to "election fraud".
Military chief Min Aung Hlaing has been handed power, and a state of emergency imposed for one year, according to a statement on a military-owned television station.
I condemn the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar. The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released.
Care home worker vaccine uptake improving, minister insists
A minister has played down reports that some care home workers have been unwilling to take the coronavirus vaccine.
"We know that there were some staff that were worried about the idea of having the vaccination," Helen Whately told BBC Breakfast.
"But what I am hearing is that when the vaccination teams go into the care homes staff are coming forward. Some might be nervous but when they see their colleagues getting the vaccination, when they see that it's all right... we really are seeing good take-up from care home workers."
07:53 AM
Fuel duty rise now inevitable, say Tory MPs
A hike in fuel duty could be announced in the Budget after Conservative MPs signalled to Rishi Sunak they could live with an end to the decade-long freeze.
They include senior members of the Northern Research Group (NRG), made up of dozens of MPs in former “Red Wall" seats, who suggest that a 1p-2p hike in fuel duty would be “bearable”, providing it enabled investment in left behind areas.
Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.
The atmosphere was electric for Clark's home debut and there were brief flashes from the Fever, but it's clear they've got plenty to work on before they can compete with the WNBA's elite teams.
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