Teachers, police officers and retail staff could be the next people in line to get the coronavirus vaccine, the Health Secretary said today.
Matt Hancock appeared on Good Morning Britain today to speak about the vaccination programme and the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.
Mr Hancock said that the government was on track to vaccinate the clinically vulnerable by their February 15 deadline.
Host Susanna Reid asked Mr Hancock if teachers could be "bumped up the list" to stop children having "more devastation put on them."
And Mr Hancock agreed and said: "Well they've got a very good case for that, after the clinically vulnerable, they have to be first because that's what stops people from dying and we've got to prevent pressure on the NHS as well.
"But once we've got through them we have to have a debate as a nation about where we go next.
"I think teachers, police officers and shop workers have got a good case that they should be next as opposed to just continuing through the age range.
"It's certainly something we're looking at."
Mr Hancock said the government was monitoring the current rollout to see how much people transmit the virus after they've been vaccinated.
He said: "How we decide how to go through the groups is the question of how much you transmit the virus after you've been vaccinated.
"We hope to know that in the next couple of weeks so before the 15th of February, it's one of the facts I'm looking forward to finding out the most."
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Piers Morgan also quizzed the Health Secretary as to why they weren't offering 24/7 vaccinations for shift workers such as doctors.
And Mr Hancock confirmed the government were "up for that" if it would speed up delivery of the vaccine.
He said: "Most people would prefer to be vaccinated in the day and most vaccinators would prefer to work in the day.
"But I don't rule that out, if that's the easiest way to get it to them then yes."
*GMB continues at 6am on ITV tomorrow
