Matt Hancock has said he has “no doubt” that people will be free to travel around the UK in the coming weeks.
The Health Secretary told a Downing Street press briefing: “I very much look forward to all the restrictions on travel within the UK being removed.
“We have set out when the English restrictions will be removed and will lift the stay-at-home message as part of the road map out.
“I have no doubt that within a short few weeks everybody will be allowed to travel around the UK so long as we are able to keep this progress going.
"Both the progress in the UK-wide vaccination effort and keeping the number of cases under control.”
Issues with the coronavirus vaccine supply hit the headlines this morning with fears there could be ‘some delay’ for the over 50s in getting their first jab.
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In a letter sent out by NHS bosses, they warned there is a major shortage of the vaccine and the next stage of the rollout could be delayed up until the end of April.
This was played down by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick who insisted the government’s target of administering the jab to everyone in groups 1-9 will be met.
Mr Jenrick said there was “every reason to believe that supply will increase during the months of May, June and July”, and denied issues raised.
During the press briefing Matt Hancock dismissed the letter as “standard” and revealed the government “regularly sends out technical letters to the NHS to explain the ups and downs of the supply”.
The letter is said to have advised vaccination sites in England not to book in anyone aged under 50 during, and instead to focus on vaccinating all other vulnerable groups.
The aim would also be to deliver a “significantly increased number of second doses” as part of the rollout plan over the next month.
Mr Hancock added: “We're making absolutely fantastic progress in the vaccination effort. I'm delighted we're able to open up to millions more people today,” he continued.
“And of course, you know, the future forecasts are always lumpy, and sometimes they go up, and sometimes they go down.”
"But we've made these public commitments and I'm absolutely delighted with the team, because we're on track to meet them.”
