Matt Hancock told the Commons he hopes vaccinations in care homes can “start before Christmas”.
Responding to former Conservative minister Damian Green, the Health Secretary said: “I hope that we can get the vaccine out to residents of care homes as soon as is feasibly possible.
“They are in the top priority clinically and it’s simply a question of how quickly we can operationalise getting the vaccine out to care homes.
“I hope that can start before Christmas.”
Matt Hancock also warned people to “not blow it” and follow measures to keep others safe given the vaccine rollout is in its early stages.
Asked by Conservative Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) if the UK should be able to move quicker to lift local restrictions in the new year, Mr Hancock replied in the Commons: “I very much hope so but there’s some time between now and then.
“We’ve got to temper our joy and enthusiasm at today’s announcement with the need to keep each other safe between now and then. Let’s not blow it since we can see the answer is on the horizon.”
Mr Hancock also quoted The Merchant of Venice, in a nod to the second person to be vaccinated – 81-year-old William Shakespeare, from Warwickshire.
The Health Secretary said: “Well, this year I’ve sometimes turned for inspiration to the Bard, when they prick us do we not bleed?
“It was a delight and a coincidence to find that Mr William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon, a constituent of the vaccine rollout minister (Nadhim Zahawi) – by coincidence, don’t get any ideas – was called forward to be the second person to be vaccinated by the NHS.”
