People walk past ambulances at the Royal London Hospital in London, Britain, on April 9, 2021. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)

The India-related variant is becoming the dominant strain in some parts of Britain, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

"We need to be cautious, we need to be careful, we need to be vigilant and we've said -- at each step," Hancock said.

LONDON, May 16 -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Sunday that the coronavirus variant first detected in India can "spread like wildfire" among those who haven't had a jab.

The variant is "becoming the dominant strain in some parts of the country" such as Bolton and Blackburn, he told Sky News.

On a more positive note, he said there is a "high degree of confidence" that the current vaccines are effective against the variant.

Hancock urged those who are eligible for vaccination but have not yet booked an appointment to come forward to get their vaccine.

The health secretary described the current situation as "a race between the vaccination program and the virus", with the new variant having "given the virus some extra legs in that race".

"And so even with the protection that the vaccine gives you -- the vaccine protection is very high but it is not absolute."