Britain is in a "Grand National-style" race to beat coronavirus but could remain in lockdown until late spring, England's deputy chief medical officer warned.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam warned it will take three months before the impact of the vaccine programme starts to make a difference.
He joined in the vaccination effort at the weekend, volunteering to help at the Richard Herrod Centre in Nottingham in his free time.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: "The vaccine effects are going to take three months until we see them properly, and until then no one can relax. "We are probably in the last few furlongs of this race - like in the Grand National.
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