Government appoints Nadhim Zahawi as vaccines minister

Nadhim Zahawi has been appointed as minister in charge of rolling out the Covid vaccine across England, as soon as it’s approved by regulators.

The Government has ordered almost 150 million doses of three different vaccines – with some reports suggesting the rollout could begin as soon as next week.

In the last 24 hours – a further 15,871 new cases have been confirmed in the UK. A further 479 deaths have been reported – which takes the total to 58,030.

But just days before England’s lockdown is eased – police arrested more than 60 people during protests against the measures in central London.

Symeon Brown reports.