Matt Hancock says coronavirus vaccine supplies are sufficient

Prime Minister Boris Johnson set a new target last night to vaccinate all adults aged 50 and above - as well as those with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk - by April 15.

By July 31, the government hopes to have offered all adults in the UK a jab.

Prime minister Boris Johnson holding a vial of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine

"We now think that we have the supplies to be able to do that, we can see the NHS and all of those partners and all of those working on this have been able to deliver jabs at about half-a-million a day, which is an incredible effort," Mr Hancock told Sky News this morning.

"So, collectively, the whole team now needs to focus on this renewed target of all vulnerable groups, all those over 50 by April 15 and then we will keep rolling out and make sure that all adults get access to the jab."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a media briefing in Downing Street, London

The Health Secretary also said the impact of the vaccine on stopping transmission is "something that we have early evidence" of.

"It looks like the first jab reduces your impact of transmitting the disease by about two-thirds, but we need more evidence on that as well," he said.

One in three adults has now had a coronavirus vaccine.

But, despite the vaccine programme going "very well", Matt Hancock has continued to insist it is right to take a "cautious" approach to easing lockdown restrictions,.

He told Sky: "I know that everybody at Sky News is keen to be able to get back to having parties and all of us understandably want to get back to normal.

"But it is right to be cautious - it is incredibly important. There are still almost 20,000 people in hospital with Covid right now...

"The vaccination programme, while clearly going very well, will take time to be able to reach all people who have significant vulnerability, especially because we need to get the second jab to everybody.

Matt Hancock (PA)

"So, we've got time that needs to be taken to get this right.

"The Prime Minister will set out the road map tomorrow and he will set out the full details - taking into account that we need to take a cautious but irreversible approach, that's the goal."

The Health Secretary declined to comment on the details of the road map, which has yet to be signed off by Cabinet ministers.

But, he said, the existing coronavirus restrictions will be eased with "weeks between the steps".

The Health Secretary told Times Radio it takes a few weeks for the impact of lifting measures to be seen.

He said: "Hence, there will be weeks between the steps so that we can watch carefully."

• READ MORE: All adults to be offered Covid vaccine by July 31, Prime Minister pledges

Mr Hancock also said precautions such as social distancing measures and the wearing of face coverings are likely to remain for a while.

He added: "I want to see it more about personal responsibility over time as we have vaccinated more and more of the population."

The Prime Minister is chairing a meeting of senior ministers today, known as the "Covid S" committee, to finalise his road map to lifting lockdown measures before it is signed off by the Cabinet tomorrow.

Covid-19 vaccine.

He will then unveil the plans to MPs in the Commons tomorrow afternoon, and is expected to lead a Downing Street press conference tomorrow evening.

Labour welcomed the accelerated vaccine target but called on the government to "urgently" set out how they will prioritise those aged under 50.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "It's perfectly reasonable for teachers, police officers and other key workers who haven't been able to stay at home in the lockdown to ask when their turn will be.

Female doctor in protective workwear holding vaccine vial and taking liquid out with syringe; prevention and immunization from flu virus infection.

"If government aren't going to prioritise by occupation in the next phase, they need to set out why.

"Vaccination must go hand-in-hand with measures to break transmission chains. That means paying people decent financial support to isolate, updating face coverings guidance and insisting in ventilation standards to ensure all workplaces are Covid secure."

Downing Street said the JCVI would publish its priority list for the second phase of the vaccine programme in due course.