I began by asking him if the government was on track to meet its target of vaccinating 15 million people by the middle of February.

I'm confident that we will hit the target off, making sure that we offer those four top categories of the most vulnerable people the vaccine.

You've seen a marked interest.

Today we almost hit 250,000 jobs in a single day.

We published data every day and that will continue to improve day on day.

I also have a quite a good, clear line of sight now off deliveries through till on February.

So I'm pretty confident that we will be able to meet that target.

There were reports this week, the Utah MPs and a phone call Tory MPs.

You don't want other European countries to know how much we have because we're all competing for a finite supply vaccine.

But by even saying you're going to vaccine almost 50 million by middle of February, you're kind of giving the game away anyway, aren't you?

No, I said, Well, we've got tens of millions coming through in the next weeks and months.

We've ordered 100 million of AstraZeneca and 40 million of fires a vaccine.

The thing that I think would be wrong to do.

And I said this this to the select committee as well is to be Thio sort of give a running commentary off a forecast of every delivery one.

Because it's for national security reasons.

It's a wrong thing to do.

Secondly, you don't want Thio to put pressure on the manufacturers because every country now obviously, is looking for more supply.

Are you worried that perhaps someone like Germany is about to hijack some of the vaccine supplies that are on our way to us?

Are you really thinking that thing's air so acute and indeed desperate that that could happen?

No, I wouldn't, uh, dio that far.

I think the manufacturers these are great companies.

But, you know, obviously there is pressure on production.

There's pressure on supply toe other countries.

I could tell you exactly how many we've ordered.

What I didn't want to get into is when does each batch arrive?

What I'm very happy to do, which I think information is our ally in this endeavor is to publish daily data of how many people we've actually vaccinated.

Paul this week revealed that 43% of Britons would happily be vaccinated between 68 midnight and 6 a.m. with only 32% saying they wouldn't.

Surely a 24 7 vaccination would help you meet that target.

Is that not happening?

It just simply because you don't have enough does is well, it's a really good question.

So one we're gonna pilot 24 7 vaccination just to see how the system can work.

Where will you do the pilot and when?

For 24 7.

So the NHS is looking exactly how to do that.

But what I'm saying to you is actually, during 24 hours a day when you have limited vaccine supply, right, you want to focus your your your attention and every jab to the most, uh, the most vulnerable group.

You've said that the priority group for Phase two the vaccination program would be teachers, shot workers, policemen and police women.

But it would be for the joint committee and vaccinations and immunizations to decide that.

Would you be prepared on willing to override their advice if it means inoculating key workers who rest so much for us, So already so, so, so sorry.

We're so much for us already so that J.

C b.

I will look at the face to Andi will make their recommendation.

My instinct is to say those who are in professions that are most likely to come into contact with the virus on the viral load.

Teachers, policemen and women, shop workers, a number off different professions.

My instincts say we must focus on them.

The prime minister's made it very clear that the first thing he wants to do is make sure that schools are completely open.

Let's talk briefly about care homes because the weekend intense January 35% more care homes affected in the previous week as levels approach there was seen in the first wave.

How could this have happened again?

Well, again, this we've we've put testing into care homes.

Andi, that has made a difference.

But you're right.

The reason I I say to you, is the most vulnerable people in our society.

Why the reason I'm focusing all the effort off primary care to make sure every care home is vaccinated before the end of the month is because they're so vulnerable on its because this this variant is so infectious, it is much more infectious.

And my message to all your viewers is Please, please, please stay at home.

This virus loves social interactions.

Stay home is a key messages, the government's key message.

But this week, Newsnight is reported that, rather than being noncompliant, is not about being non compliant.

People are simply unable to quarantine.

You know, we have from care workers who said I couldn't afford another two weeks like that.

It would make me reluctant to self isolate.

Were the people that held the country up in the first wave on now beginning the doors shut on us.

Listen to this statistic and the demons are we?

Liverpool City Council rejected 77% of applicants for the £500 payment.

People cannot afford to stay at home.

A lot of care workers are on minimum wage.

Shouldn't you be doing more to help low paid workers?

You know, for example, looking at New York, people are paid to stay at home.

People are given hotels when they live in small houses with other people and can't self isolate, is this is the focus needs to maybe change now we need to actually refocus to help people stay at home rather than I mean, they feel desperate about breaking rules, but they can't afford to put food on the table.

So the hardship payments are deliberate, targeted at those who most need it.

Um, they are, you know that their purpose for those who really, really do need it who are on minimum wage that you describe.

We also have made £50 million on an additional, I think, 20 million about to go out to local government Azaz further discretionary payments for those people that they think may be outside off the criteria that they still need the help.

And so we're putting more used it.

What do we do, Minister?

If they're being refused it, 77%.

Other councils have similar figures.

If they're being refused it, These people are desperate under the people that we rely on the most.

Don't you need to do more for them?

Look, we're putting billions into both the economy and helping people through with welfare system through making sure that housing back away the other help that's there for people to help them get through this.

This is it is tough.

I don't sort of, you know, uh, deny at all how difficult this is for people, especially if you're on national living wage.

But nevertheless, the hardship payments are deliberately targeted at those that most needed.