THE government has ordered 114 million extra Covid vaccine doses for use over the next two years.

It was announced this morning as the British government has signed contracts to buy 114 million extra coronavirus vaccine doses for 2022 and 2023.

Deals were made as cases of the new Omicron variant rise to 32.

Sajid David said 60 million additional doses of the Moderna vaccine and 54 million more Pfizer/BioNTech jabs - will help the UK to "buy time" with the Omicron spreading through the UK.

Announcing the vaccine contract update, Mr Javid said: "Since we learned about this new variant, our strategy has been to buy time - time to assess it, but also to build our defences - and vaccines still remain our best line of defence.

"But I am also pleased to announce that today, that we have signed contracts with Pfizer and Moderna to get an additional 114 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine doses for the next two calendar years.

"I accelerated this purchase in light of this new variant - which includes purchases of modified vaccines - to make sure that we have got the vaccines that we need for the long term."