The government is “confident” of increasing the supply of COVID vaccines in the coming months to allow the UK to “increase the pace” of its rollout programme, a cabinet minister has told Sky News.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick promised the UK would remain as one of the fastest countries in the world to vaccinate its population.

Despite a recent vaccine export row with the EU – and supply problems from India – Mr Jenrick stressed the government was “on course” to meet its target of offering a first dose to the top nine priority groups by 15 April and all UK adults by the end of July.

“We’ve built an infrastructure in this country that really is world class, it would enable us to vaccinate even more people than we have done in recent weeks – millions more people,” he said.

“So the more vaccines we can secure, the more jabs can go into people’s arms. But we do have enough supply in sight to continue to meet our obligations.

“That means if you have an appointment for your second jab, you should not be worried, that will be honoured, you will get that jab on the date you’re provided.”

And, raising the prospect of the UK’s vaccine rollout operating even faster if supplies are boosted, Mr Jenrick added: “We’ll continue to be one, if not the leading, country in the world for the vaccine rollout.

“But if we can secure more supply – and we’re confident that we will do, incidentally – in the months ahead, then we can continue to increase the pace, which is critical.

“Because the vaccine at the end of the day is our route out of this situation.”

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