They're desperate to come up with a Brexit win. Because they havent prepared for it (Brexit Team at work still hasnt been given the "what we need to do for Brexit" or "how to trade GB-NI" information yet, for example). Come January it looks like there will be queues at the border, food shortages, job loses...so they need a benefit. Not sure it's much to do with the EU. The Swiss are not tied the EMA, and they're waiting. The US is waiting. It's been rushed in hopes of getting the economy going. Not sure I trust that.
We need to see what the vaccine does, how it works, does it reduce cases. But if reduces cases to the point where the NHS is not being overloaded - which is supposedly what they're basing the restrictions on - then the restrictions need to lift a bit. For all, not just those who were first in the queue. Which, yes, they should be first. Nothing will kill any sort of lockdown compliance like 60 year old Aunt Bessie going on her second cruise, whilst 20 year low-risk Emma is stuck self-isolating for the second time in a month, hasn't seen family and friends since March, and lost her job in retail.