All over-70s, frontline health and care workers and the clinically extremely vulnerable are due to be vaccinated within the next four weeks. Everyone over 50 will then be prioritised, as the first phase of the plan – which is expected to run until spring – comes to a close. Now experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are considering who should be next in the queue.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is a “good case” for teachers to be high up in phase two.
However, a decision is not expected soon on who will receive jabs first in the next round.
Government insiders say “good progress” is now being made on rolling out vaccines to all the top priority groups.
They insist the main driver behind discussions is the risk of dying from Covid-19, which is mainly age-related.
Groups covered by phase one account for an estimated 99 percent of avoidable deaths from the disease, according to the JCVI.
However, its advisers have now said the focus could shift towards cutting hospital admissions.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “The JCVI is now looking at what phase two should look like.”
