NHS trusts in Covid hotspot areas will start to receive batches of the vaccine for the first time, it has been reported.
Barts Health Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and Bedfordshire FT are among the latest set of trusts that will start providing the Covid vaccine to over 80s and health and care staff.
These three trusts all operate in tier four areas with the highest rate of Covid, reports the Health Service Journal.
Healthcare staff at Barts Health had raised fears their hospitals were not yet part of the mass vaccination programme, particularly as Royal London Hospital had the highest number of covid patients in the city.
Matt Hancock said: "This Christmas and the start of 2021 is going to be tough. The new variant makes everything much harder because it spreads so much faster.
"But we mustn't give up now, we know that we can control this virus, we know we can get through this together, we're going to get through it by suppressing the virus until a vaccine can make us safe."
He added: "I believe that everybody will do what is needed to keep themselves and others safe, especially this Christmas, and I know from the bottom of my heart that there are brighter skies ahead."
The Health Secretary said the current Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is being delivered in more than 500 sites across the UK, including care homes, with more to follow.
He continued: "I'm delighted to be able to announce that we have begun vaccination in care homes.
"We know that people who live in care homes are amongst the most vulnerable to this disease and I'm delighted that we're able to do this.
"Again, it's another enormous logistical challenge and I'm very very grateful to colleagues in the NHS and in the social care sector, who work together so hard to make this happen.
"This afternoon, it gives me great joy to tell you that the Chelsea Pensioners will be vaccinated, along with care home residents right across the country.
"I think we all need a bit of good news and the reality is this vaccine programme is the way we're going to get through this because every time somebody is vaccinated our country becomes a little bit safer, they become a little bit safer and we get a little bit closer to the life that we all want to get back to."
