More than four million people have received the coronavirus vaccine in the UK, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday.

"As of midnight, last night, we have now vaccinated 4,062,501 people across the United Kingdom. We are currently vaccinating more than double the rate per person per day than any other country in Europe," Hancock said in a live address from Downing Street.

Hancock said more than half of people over the age of 80 and half of elderly care home residents, some of the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19, had received the jab, according to data.

He added there were areas across the country where the "vast majority" of people over 80 years had been vaccinated while in some areas, like Slough, all care home residents had been vaccinated.

"This means that in those areas where the vast majority of people in the top two priority groups have been vaccinated, from today, we can start moving to the over 70s and those under 70 who are extremely clinically vulnerable," Hancock added.

"It is the best way both to maximize the pace of the rollout and to deliver according to the clinical prioritization, all with the goal of saving as many lives, as quickly as possible and reducing the pressures on the NHS."

He further reassured people aged over 80 years who had not received the vaccine that they will be contacted and get an invitation to receive the vaccine "within the next four weeks".

Hancock's announcement came with a grim admission that the National Health Service (NHS) was under "significant pressure" in all parts of the country.

"There are 37,475 people in UK hospitals with coronavirus, that is the highest that it has been throughout the pandemic, and someone is admitted to hospital every 30 seconds."

The UK on Monday recorded 599 more coronavirus deaths and an additional 37,535 cases. The UK has reported more than 3.4 million confirmed cases and more than 89,000 deaths, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.

(With input from agencies)