Boris Johnson speech: What time is Prime Minister speaking and what will he announce?

Boris Johnson is to be joined by NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens at 5pm today (January 7) to update the public on proposals to accelerate the rollout of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccines.

The Army will be called in to help distribute the jabs to speed up the immunisation process across the UK, in an attempt to increase the number of people receiving the Covid-19 vaccine over the next fortnight.

The Government hopes the new plan will help achieve the Prime Minister’s target of having 13 million people vaccinated by mid February and ending the third national lockdown before March.

As it stands, only 1.3 million people in the UK have received the Covid-19 jab since it was first rolled-out last month – millions less than Mr Johnson’s promise.

Insiders from within the Government have confirmed that only military planners would be used to administer the injections currently, as opposed to army troops as part of the proposals to accelerate the immunisation rollout.

It comes after the Prime Minister confirmed that 1 in 50 people have coronavirus in a press conference on Tuesday, as the number of infections sky-rocket across the nation due to the new virus variant.

Mr Johnson will begin the Downing Street address at 5pm today to update the nation on the new plans, drawn up by military battlefield planners, to administer vaccines.

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.