Vaccination delays in NI ‘will be measured in lost lives’

Pam Cameron said that 50,000 people in Northern Ireland getting their first dose of the new vaccine was “very positive,” but said a “wider roll-out” must follow.

The DUP MLA was commenting after Health Minister Robin Swann revealed that almost all care home residents have now been vaccinated and that more batches of the vaccine are on their way.

“Mass vaccination is the quickest and clearest route out of this pandemic,” Ms Cameron said.

“The cost of delay will not just be measured in lost productivity in our economy but in lives lost across our community. That 50,000 people have received a first dose is very positive news with 91% of care homes visited and 43% of Health & Social Care staff also vaccinated. However, this must be the first step towards an even wider roll-out of vaccinations.”

Ms Cameron added: “With every vaccination delivered the pressure on our health service will start to be lessened. Covid-19 has been an unprecedented challenge and the scale of the vaccination programme that should be rolled out needs to match the level of the challenge we have faced.”

Earlier yesterday, Mr Swann said that 30,000 healthcare staff had already received the vaccine and that more than 500 boxes of the AstraZeneca vaccine, representing 50,400 doses, have now been delivered.

Mr Swann also said that 45 GP practices have been issued with the vaccine to administer to patients, to their staff and to the over 80s.

In England, mass vaccination operations at seven sites – including sports venues and London’s ExCel convention centre – are due to begin next week, Downing Street has confirmed.

Hubs will be set up in London, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Surrey and Stevenage, Number 10 said.

Venues including the Etihad Tennis Centre in Manchester and Epsom Racecourse in Surrey will be converted into regional centres in an attempt to meet the target of vaccinating 14 million people UK-wide by February.

The centres are expected to be staffed with a combination of NHS staff and volunteers, the spokesman added.

It comes after supermarket chain Morrisons confirmed that car parks at three stores would host drive-through vaccinations from Monday, with a further 47 offered to the government.

Meanwhile, anyone aged between 50 and 64 in Northern Ireland will now be eligible for the flu jab.

The expansion of the vaccination programme is designed to relieve pressure on the health service. Those who will be aged 50-64 by March 31, 2021 can avail of the jab from more than 350 community pharmacies or through their local GP practice.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “We have seen an increased uptake in the flu vaccine programme this year and whilst this is very encouraging it remains extremely important that we take all necessary measures to help reduce the spread of flu.

“This is especially true given the very high levels of Covid-19 transmission in our communities. Reducing the pressure caused by seasonal flu will help protect our health service and save lives.”

Mr Swann added: “This week has also seen GP practices begin the first phase in the Covid-19 population vaccination programme. Given the scale of the vaccination programme and the delivery schedule of the vaccines it will take time to vaccinate a substantial proportion of the population.

“I would ask people to remain patient, wait to be called and appreciate that GP practices will be delivering the significant Covid-19 programme alongside their normal service. Bearing this in mind, people in this group can also avail of the flu jab, through participating community pharmacies.”

Mr Swann also said it was important to acknowledge the hard work of GP practices to date.

“I want to pay tribute to GP practice teams and community pharmacies who have worked throughout the pandemic to vaccinate those most vulnerable in our community,” he said.

“I also want to acknowledge the increased role pharmacy teams will play in vaccinating this additional group which will allow GP practices to concentrate on rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination programme,” Mr Swann added.