Police, teachers and other key workers are likely to be next in line for the coronavirus vaccine after over-50s are offered the jab.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told Good Morning Britain today that whilst phase 1 of the vaccine roll-out has focused on the clinically vulnerable he expects phase 2 will focus on professions which could also include prison wardens and supermarket workers.
Yesterday, Boris Johnson confirmed the government had hit its first target of offering the vaccine to the 15 million people in the top four priority groups by the middle of February with the aim to now vaccinate all adults in an at-risk group and the over 50s by the end of April.
Phase 2 of the vaccination roll-out will then follow.
Mr Zahawi said priority groups will be assigned based on scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), who are due to meet later this afternoon.
“We’ve gone back to the JCVI to ask them, in the context of serious infection, hospitalisation and death, to look at professions – teachers, police officers, prison wardens, those who work in supermarkets, shop workers as well – and if that should be our focus because they come into much greater contact with people, and therefor much greater volumes of the virus,” Mr Zahawi said.
“They will look at all the evidence and will advise us in the coming weeks on Phase 2 and then we will follow that advice to deliver Phase 2.”
