By Charlotte Webster-
Care homes and people over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers – including NHS staff top the list of those to be vaccinated by mid February.
Just below that group are people over the age 75, and the fourth group are people aged 70 and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.
This last group – who are the same as those who have been advised to shield – includes people such as organ transplant recipients and cancer patients.
Mr Johnson said of the top four priority groups: “If we succeed in vaccinating all those groups, we will have removed huge numbers of people from the path of the virus”.
“And of course that will eventually enable us to lift many of the restrictions we’ve endured for so long.”
The prime minister said: “By the middle of February, if things go well and with a fair wind in our sails, we expect to have offered the first vaccine dose to everyone in the four top priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation”.
The Prime Minister referred to the existence of the vaccines as the “one huge difference” in fighting the pandemic now compared to last year.
“We’re now rolling out the biggest vaccination programme in our history,” he added.
Hospitality businesses have pledged to help with the rollout, offering their spaces which are currently unused due to ongoing closures.
Calling for more grants as premises remain shuttered, UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said businesses are “keen to repay the support shown to us”.
She explained: “Our sector is sitting on well-ventilated, Covid-secure spaces such as hotels, conference centres, pubs and restaurants which can be used and businesses are already coming forward to offer locations to expedite a mass vaccination programme.