Matt Hancock Warns Public 'Let's Not Blow It Now' As Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Begins

Matt Hancock has urged the public not to “blow it” by abandoning social distancing rules now the vaccine rollout is under way.

Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, the health secretary said the deployment of the Pfizer jab in the UK was a “day to celebrate” and the “start of the fightback” against coronavirus.

Hancock, who appeared to cry during a TV interview on Tuesday morning when watching footage of the vaccine being first used, said it was “emotional for many of us”.

But he told MPs there were “worrying signs” that infection rates were rising in some areas, including Essex, Kent and London.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we must all keep following the rules to keep people safe, and make sure we can get through this safely together,” he said.

“Even while we can now see the route out, there’s still a long march ahead. Let’s not blow it now.”

He added: “We must stick with it for now, but we can see the way through this.”

Margaret Keenan, 90, was the first person to receive Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, marking the start of a phased NHS rollout across the UK.

Here is the vaccine priority list:

1. Older adults resident in a care home and care home workers

2. All those 80 years of age and over, plus frontline health and social care workers

3. All those 75 years of age and over

4. All those 70 years of age and over

5. All those 65 years of age and over

6. All Individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions.

7. All those 60 years of age and over

8. All those 55 years of age and over

9. All those 50 years of age and over

10. The rest of the population (priority to be determined)

Under the NHS plan, the vaccine is being administered in hospitals first, with it being given by GPs next week and in care homes by Christmas.

Hancock said once vaccines other than Pfizer’s were available, such as the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, then vaccination centres in larger venues like sports stadiums and conference halls would be opened in the New Year.

The health secretary said he had “high confidence that the summer of 2021 will be a bright one” and that the vaccine would mean the current restrictions could be scrapped.

The government is under pressure from a significant Tory MPs to lift restrictions sooner rather than later.

England is currently divided into three tiers, with almost 99% of the population living under the stricter tier 2 and tier 3 rules. The government is due to review the allocation of tiers on December 16.