Boris Johnson confirms a 24/7 vaccine delivery programme will be rolled out

A 24/7 vaccination programme is set to be rolled out across the UK, the prime minister has confirmed today.

Boris Johnson promised that the country’s vaccine delivery programme will operate 24 hours a day ‘as soon as possible.’

It came in response to a question from Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions today, with Mr Johnson confirming there would be a move to 24/7 jabs, adding that the health secretary Matt Hancock would be announcing details shortly.

Labour leader Keir Starmer opened PMQs, saying: “I welcome news that has come out this morning about a pilot of 24/7 vaccine centres – I anticipate there is going to be huge clamour for this.

“So, can the Prime Minister tell us when will the 24/7 vaccine centres be open to the public, because I understand they are not at the moment, and when will they be rolled out across the country?”

Boris Johnson replied: “I can tell [Sir Keir] that we’ll be going to 24/7 as soon as we can and [Matt Hancock] will be setting out more about that in due course.

“As he rightly says, at the moment the limit is on supply.”

Just hours earlier a government source had told the Mirror that while there was a proposal for a 24/7 vaccine centre, it was only for NHS staff on night shifts and not the public.

The source added that there had been no confirmation on where a 24/7 centre would go.

In regards to 24/7 vaccines, Matt Hancock said on BBC Breakfast: “I’m absolutely up for doing that if it helps to speed up the vaccination programme.

“I can’t see that being the major factor because most people want to get vaccinated in the daytime. And also most people who are doing the vaccinations want to give them in the daytime.

“But there may be circumstances in which that would help and we’re absolutely up for that.”