Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged for caution in the "last lap" of the fight against coronavirus.
Speaking on Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Raab said that "steady steps" out of lockdown are "the smart way to go" so that the many sacrifices are not squandered, PA reports.
He said: "I know that people are hankering to go a bit faster but actually we feel vindicated at taking steady steps out of the lockdown is the smart way to go.
"We're very close now to really turning the corner and I think we still need to be careful to go as I said we don't want to see the gains lost and the sacrifices that have been made undone.
"By the time we get to June 21 almost all social restrictions will be lifted so there's only a little bit more time to go, but it's right to make sure we do that in a careful way.
"We're at the end of really the process if you like, we've got two more steps to take, but I do think given the rollout of the vaccine, that's exciting.
"It's got people thinking about not just social interaction but of course things like hugging your loved ones that you haven't been able to do for a while.
"I do think we just need to make sure that in the last lap, if you like, that we are careful and we don't lose the gains we've made."
The Foreign Secretary also said that "all the different contingencies" are being looked after it was reported there are plans to consider offering vaccines to secondary school pupils as soon as September.
He told the programme he would not “speculate" plans beyond the existing road map, but added: “You’re right that we’re looking at all the different contingencies to make sure that the easing-up of the restrictions, the returning to normal, can be done in a safe and secure way.”
There are reports that the rollout is being planned for when the school term begins in the autumn, according to the Sunday Times.
The plan is currently awaiting confirmation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) but documents detailing the different scenarios are being drawn up.
The documents are being compiled by NHS officials and state that children aged 12 and over will be offered the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine when the first school term begins in the autumn.
