UK coronavirus LIVE: Matt Hancock says 4 in 5 of over-80s have had Covid vaccine as PM suggests lockdown ‘could start easing next month’

Nearly four in five over-80s in the UK have now received a first dose of coronavirus vaccine, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock revealed the latest figures at a Downing Street press conference and said the roll-out was “on track” to hit its target of vaccinating 15 million vulnerable people by February 15.

Meanwhile, Tory MPs have warned that England’s school children have become the “forgotten victims” of the coronavirus pandemic, mounting pressure on Boris Johnson to get kids back into the classroom after the February half-term.

Indeed, the Prime Minister suggested rules could start to ease next month. He told reporters this morning that the Government would be “looking at the potential of relaxing some measures” before mid-February.

However, Downing Street has since sought to clarify Mr Johnson’s remarks, with the PM’s spokesman insisting that Mr Johnson was, in fact, reffering to the lockdown review scheduled for February 15. The spokseman added: "It has always been our intention to ease restrictions where we can from that point on the 15th, and schools are obviously our top priority.”