Ministers were also told the Oxford vaccine was proving more effective in people aged over-70, the Mail on Sunday reports.

The UK has vaccinated almost 20 million people and offered a jab to the four most vulnerable groups as outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Official data shows deaths amongst the over-75s had fallen by 40 percent in the last week, with fatalities also dropping by 23 percent for those aged 65 and under.

Several countries across Europe, including France and Germany, raised doubts over whether the vaccine worked and banned its use for the over-65s.