“We will then extend the pre-flu jab to the over-50s, so those between aged 50 and 64, if we have enough.
“But the truth is that there is a global increase in demand for the flu vaccine. We’ve bought more than ever before.
“I hope that we can get a big increase in the proportion of the over-65s who are getting it because they’re the people who, if they get the flu, are much, much more likely to end up in hospital.”
He added: “And then we’ll roll it out to the under-65s, from 50 upwards, as and when we can see how well the over-65 programme is going.”
