Around 2.4 million people have now received a coronavirus vaccine, the Prime Minister has said.
It comes as seven mass vaccination sites opened across England today.
The new centres will operate 8am to 8pm, and will be joined later this week by hundreds more GP-led and hospital services as well as the first pharmacy-led pilot sites. This takes the UK’s vaccination sites to around 1,200, NHS England said.
Praising the expansion of the UK’s vaccination programme, Professor Chris Whitty told BBC Radio 5 Live he hopes that restrictions will not be necessary next winter but that society is “quite a long way” from returning to normal life.
“If we have a very effective vaccination programme,” England’s chief medical officer said.
“If the vaccine works for a long period of time and prevents transmission, and in particular if everybody takes it up as they’re offered it, then my hope is that we will need minimal or no restrictions in due course.”
