Army could be used to transport vaccine, minister says

The Army could be used to help transport further stocks of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from Belgium to the UK, a Foreign Office minister has said.

James Cleverly told BBC Breakfast the Covid-19 vaccine was a “top priority product”.

Asked whether the armed forces would be used to help transport the vaccine if needed, Cleverly told BBC Breakfast: “Potentially – we are looking at non-commercial flight options.”

In response to concerns that a no-deal Brexit could cause delays in getting the vaccine into the UK, he said: “This is such an important product, it’s probably, perhaps the most important product, so we will look to ensure that those supplies are available in the UK in whatever circumstance.”

Vaccinations are due to begin tomorrow.