A vaccine expert from the University of Bristol has said the four-week delay to the end of all coronavirus restrictions is "extremely welcome".
Professor Adam Finn made the comment during an interview with BBC Breakfast, as a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
He said there was "very promising evidence" that the vaccines were starting to break the link between infection and serious illness.
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"I do think that we are seeing a position where there are fewer seriously ill people in the context of an increasing number of infections, and that’s extremely encouraging," he added.
Professor Finn explained that getting more people vaccinated would allow the UK to "get ahead of this current wave".
"In the past, the lockdown simply pushed cases into the future, people were not infected but they were still vulnerable.
“This is different. We’re giving ourselves time to get people immune and so those people will not get sick when the virus starts to spread about.
"So, yes, the additional four weeks is extremely welcome and I hope, like we all do, that that’s enough," he said.
Professor Finn said he believed “we’re getting into a better and better place every day” through vaccination and suggested that a decision on whether to immunise children is coming “quite soon”.
