PM will test round-clock vaccine hubs

Boris ‘clashes with NHS chiefs over rollout pace’

Boris Johnson is considering opening round-the-clock vaccination centres – just days after Downing street said there was no demand.

The Daily Mail has been told that the Prime Minister has signed off on a pilot for hubs that will open for much longer than is currently the case.

Twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week centres are under consideration, a senior government source said, in an attempt to ensure people receive the jab as quickly as possible.

‘As well as more day-time appointments we are considering a pilot where vaccinations are offered for longer hours,’ the source said.

Mr Johnson’s decision comes just days after Labour leader sir Keir starmer demanded round-the-clock vaccinations.

At the time, Number 10 suggested there was no ‘clamour’ for such a service.

Last night NHs England said that while there was not enough vaccine supply to justify a 24hour service at the moment, it could be effective in future when more vaccine is received.

it was reported last night that the Prime Minister had clashed with NHs chiefs over the pace of the Covid jab rollout.

officials said there had been ‘tough’ exchanges over what Mr Johnson considers to be excessive bureaucracy and a lack of data.

Last night Downing street and NHs England said reports of a rift in the Financial Times were ‘completely untrue’.

The newspaper said that one person briefed on the tensions between NHs boss sir simon stevens and Number 10 said they had been simmering since before Christmas.

Mr Johnson was said to be concerned

‘Offered for longer hours’

that some non-frontline NHs staff had been vaccinated before some people aged 80 and over, the priority age group.

The FT said the frustrations were behind the decision to invite Brigadier Phil Prosser, commander of military support for the vaccine, to a Number 10 media briefing on the programme’s rollout last week.

A source claimed the appearance had been intended to ram the message home to sir simon that Mr Johnson was threatening to give the military a bigger role in the programme unless the rollout was accelerated.

But NHs insiders told the paper it was sir simon who had proposed Brigadier Prosser’s attendance. Downing street and NHs officials insisted the new arrangement, in which the military was embedded with health teams, was now working well and that Mr Johnson was satisfied with progress.

Earlier yesterday, the Health secretary announced that police could be prioritised alongside teachers and shop workers in the second phase of the Covid vaccine rollout.

Matt Hancock said he had told officials look ‘very carefully’ at professions that come into contact with the public.

Britain’s most senior police officer said yesterday that her officers should be ‘properly recognised’ on the prioritisation list ‘so they can continue to keep others, as well as themselves, safe’.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick told

The Times that she had asked the Government to consider the case for inoculating frontline workers earlier than planned and was ‘delighted’ to hear it was being considered.

The latest figures revealed last night that a total of 2,431,648 had received a first dose of the vaccine by the end of Monday.

This was up 145,000 on the previous day but well behind the daily numbers needed to reach 2million a week.

Under the Government’s strategy, the 15million most vulnerable people in Britain – over-70s, health workers and care home residents – will receive their jab by February 15. All over-50s and vulnerable people will receive a Covid jab by the end of April and then the second phase will start, which will likely prioritise frontline workers.