Matt Hancock refuses to rule out mandatory vaccinations if one is approved for coronavirus

Matt Hancock refused to rule out that a coronavirus vaccine could be made mandatory if one is approved.

The Health Secretary confirmed that the government had secured 5 million doses of a potential vaccine that is in the works.

Speaking at his latest Downing Street press briefing, Hancock announced that the vaccine currently being produced by US firm Moderna would be available to them if it passes trials.

Earlier on Monday, the company said their vaccine may be 94.5% effective against the virus.

Discussing the vaccine, Mr Hancock said there were no plans to make the vaccination mandatory but also didn't rule out the possibility in the future.

When asked about it, he said: "I have learned not to rule things out during this pandemic because you have to watch what happens and you have to make judgements accordingly."

He said there were "complications" around making it mandatory because some people may not be able to take it for medical reasons.

Downing Street also refused to rule out the prospect of making it a requirement for eligible people to take the vaccine although officials stressed that was not the plan.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We want as many people as possible to take the vaccine.

"It will go through rigorous safety checks before it is cleared for use.

"But we are not proposing to make it mandatory."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock holds a virtual press conference on the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) developments at Downing Street (Getty Images)

If approved, the Moderna vaccine would be administered to 2.5m people who are currently most at risk to the virus.

This includes those over 80 or living and working in care homes.

At Downing Street Hancock said the preliminary results for the vaccine were "excellent news".

He added: "Although I stress that this is preliminary, the safety data is limited and their production facilities are not yet at scale."

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Mr Hancock said the Government had secured an "initial agreement" for five million doses.

He also defended ordering just five million doses of the Moderna vaccine, enough for 2.5 million people.

He said: "I pay tribute to the Vaccine Taskforce who have done this buying, concluding the Moderna deal today."

"Business Secretary Alok Sharma had worked "incredibly hard on getting this over the line, including today."