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The vaccine rollout is proving “brilliant”, confirms Professor Saul Faust, director of NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, University of Southampton.

During this pandemic he is focusing on delivering COVID-19 Janssen vaccine trials, stressing the jabs are “absolutely essential” in beating the bug.

“Without the vaccine and NHS deployment, we will not be able to prevent further waves and impact on the NHS. Even if the infection becomes a condition like ‘flu, the vaccine will stop people dying and most people becoming so ill they have to go to hospital,” he assured.

Urging everyone to have the vaccine, and not worry about delay between doses, he added: “The vaccination programme is being rolled out in the way that is best for the UK population to try to ease pressure on the NHS and stop people dying.

“It is better to give one dose to more people and then top it up.”