The UK has missed its daily coronavirus vaccine target for three straight days, fuelling doubts that it will inoculate 15 million people by mid-February.
A total of 311,060 first doses were given on Tuesday, up from 279,757 on Monday and 220,249 on Sunday, but still below the daily average needed to meet the Prime Minister's goal.
It is a sharp drop-off from the record 491,970 first jabs given on Saturday, 478,248 on Friday and 409,855 on Thursday. Based on the latest figures, an average of 412,401 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day for the next three weeks in order to meet the target of 15 million first doses to the four highest priority groups by February 15.