Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said he thinks there is justification for those who cannot work from home to be prioritised as the vaccination programme develops.
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he said: “When we enter phase two, we will work with the Joint Committee (on Vaccination and Immunisation) to look at the priority.
“My instinct is that anyone who, through no fault of their own, has to come into contact with the virus in much greater volume and probability should be protected – teachers, policemen and women, shop workers, all those who need that additional protection.
“Now, some of them will be captured in the top nine categories anyway if they are clinically vulnerable, for example, or in that age group of the over-50s which are in category nine, effectively.
“But phase two – of course we’ll be guided by the JCVI – but my instinct is that if you work in a job, a shop worker, policemen or women, any other profession which brings you into contact with the virus unfairly, then I think you should be prioritised.”
