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The government is “confident” of increasing the supply of COVID vaccines in the coming months to allow the UK to “increase the pace” of its implementation program, a cabinet minister told Sky News.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick promised that the UK will remain one of the fastest countries in the world to vaccinate its population.
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Despite a recent vaccine export dispute with the EU, and India’s supply problems, Jenrick emphasized that the government was “on track” to meet its goal of offering a first dose to the nine priority groups before the April 15 and all UK adults by April 15. End of July.
“We have built an infrastructure in this country that is truly world class, it would allow us to vaccinate more people than we have done in recent weeks, millions more people,” he said.
“So the more vaccines we can secure, the more injections can get into people’s arms. But we have enough supply in sight to continue to meet our obligations.”
“That means that if you have an appointment for your second jab, you should not worry, that will be an honor, you will receive that jab on the date indicated.”
The UK has so far administered a first dose of vaccine to almost 29 million people, representing 55% of the adult population.
And, raising the possibility that the UK launch of the vaccine will work even faster if supplies are increased, Jenrick added: “We will remain one, if not the leading, country in the world in launching the vaccine.
“But if we can secure more supply, and we are confident that we will, by the way, in the coming months, then we can continue to increase the pace, which is critical.
“Because the vaccine at the end of the day is our route out of this situation.”
After weeks of disputes over the supply of vaccines, the UK and the EU have vowed to work together to create a “win-win situation and expand the supply of vaccines for all of our citizens”.
But tensions persist over the introduction of export controls in Brussels for vaccines produced within the bloc, as EU leaders seek to respond to criticism over its slow launch of jabs.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used a European Council summit on Thursday to warn vaccine maker AstraZeneca that it must “catch up” on vaccine deliveries to the EU before it is allowed to export injections. to other countries.
Jenrick said it was “useless” to talk about the possibility of the UK banning vaccine exports to the EU in retaliation.
But he said the government “will continue to discuss the situation with the EU to encourage them to stick to the very clear commitments they made just a few weeks ago, which were that existing contractual obligations would be met, that vaccines and other medicines can cross borders without hindrance. “.
He also praised AstraZeneca as “fantastic” and said the company and other vaccine manufacturers “deserve our support in light of all they are doing to produce vaccines, protect us from the virus and help us move forward.”
