UK Covid: Matt Hancock plays down NHS warning of 'major contraction' in vaccine supply – as it happened

Health secretary says vaccine supply is always lumpy' after NHS warns first vaccine dose volumes significantly constrained'. This live blog is now closed - please follow the global coronavirus live blog for updates

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6.32pm GMT

Supply is always lumpy and we are on course to deliver the offer that everybody who is aged 50 and above will be able to get vaccinated by the 15th of April. I recommit to that today.

We are showing good protection in the over-70s, we have compared individuals who test positive to those who test negative. There is a 60% reduction in your chance of catching Covid if you are over 70 and have been vaccinated with both vaccines.

Those effects are maintained for several weeks, they don't go away. They are still there even after a single dose and you get additional protection from the second dose.

This is really the first evidence we have of a reduction in transmission from vaccinating. It means the more people we vaccinate, the more we are going to be able to reduce the spread of infection.

I think the timing of inquiries is entirely a matter for ministers and politicians, it's not a matter for physicians.

Personally, would an inquiry be an unwelcome distraction for me personally, at the moment, when I'm very focussed on the vaccine programme and the vaccine programme we might need in the autumn? Who knows, I think it would be an extra burden that wasn't necessary.

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6.09pm GMT

Labour has criticised Matt Hancock, the health secretary, for not being open about the impact of a reduction in vaccine supply. In a statement Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said:

People across the country will be anxious and worried that the booking of new first dose vaccination appointments will be paused form the end of March.

Matt Hancock needed to explain exactly what these supply issues are and what he is doing to resolve them. Trying to dismiss or downplay the legitimate concerns of anxious people waiting for a vaccine is simply not good enough.