Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at Public Health England, said basic measures could be in place until other countries successfully roll out jabs. She also said a return of big spectator events required careful monitoring and clear instructions about staying safe.

Dr Ramsay said lower-level restrictions such as face coverings in crowded places and social distancing had become accepted by many and still allowed the economy to function. She said "people have got used to those lower level restrictions now, and people can live with them, and the economy can still go on with those less severe restrictions in place. So I think certainly for a few years, at least until other parts of the world are as well vaccinated as we are, and the numbers have come down everywhere, that is when we may be able to go very gradually back to a more normal situation," she added.

Warning it was "very important that we do not relax too quickly", Dr Ramsay said any circulating virus would inevitably pick on those who are vulnerable.

"We have to look very carefully before any of these restrictions are lifted," she said.

Prof Chris Whitty, the UK government's chief medical adviser, told MPs earlier this month that it was hoped "simple interventions like washing hands, face masks where appropriate, test-and-trace, and above all vaccines" would keep the virus controlled beyond the summer.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, has also said face masks could be needed in certain situations if the number of infections rises in the winter, but that it was possible people will naturally behave in a way that promotes social-distancing without the need for restrictions.

A group of government scientific advisers said last month that "maintaining a baseline of policies which reduce transmission" will be necessary for some time to come.

Those experts said these could include continuing test-and-trace, self-isolation, and public messaging that encourages "voluntary actions to reduce risks".

I can't see people having patience with these measures lasting beyond this year. Particularly if we have all been vaccinated.

Hence ..... the return of the morons .....

Vaccination does not prevent reinfection (in either direction) .....

The whole point of vaccination is so that we can go back to a semblance of normality. I expect things to be back to normal in most countries in 2022 for sure.

It wouldn't surprise me if it took a bit longer in some countries than others but I definitely think we will go back to a reasonably similar normal just with shifts where people and businesses have changed their way of working by choice. I can't see things being the way they were because of the serious economic disruption this has had. But I do think that we will be able to have holidays, weddings, parties and Christmas with family and friends. Let's see what happens and who is right!

Well I was thinking in terms of a wager type of thing. I was definitely wrong with my predictions last year!

Nobody could have predicted that a pandemic would be so badly managed by governments in the 21st century .....