Concerns raised over reduction in covid-19 vaccine supply in the region
GP Emma Reynolds is fearful about the implications of supplies being cut back in Yorkshire.
Concerns have been raised over the vaccination supply to GP practices in Yorkshire. It comes amid reports that the region will receive half the number of vaccine doses next week, as it's so far ahead of other areas in vaccinating high priority groups.
It was revealed that supplies of the vaccine could be diverted to other regions that have failed to vaccinate as many people.
Our region has had the most successful roll out across the UK. 67% of people in the north east and Yorkshire region have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The leaders of the West Yorkshire Councils have voiced concerns over the allocation of vaccines.
In a joint statement, they said:
Adding: "The Prime Minister has described the vaccination programme as a ‘race against time’ but our region will struggle to win that race if we cannot have certainty that vaccine deliveries will happen on the promised schedule and in the expected quantities. If some parts of the country are progressing at a slower rate, the answer should be to support those areas, not to penalise those that are delivering faster.
"We strongly urge the Government to reverse this decision and to focus on working with the vaccine manufacturers to address the supply issue that is at the core of this problem."
Dr Ollie Hart, has been part of a team providing coronavirus vaccines from Belgrave Medical Centre in Sheffield. Up to 700 patients are vaccinated there every single day - but they are running desperately low on supplies.
The practice faces a nine-day wait for another 400 doses.
GPs in Sheffield have vaccinated around 50,000 people since the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out. The Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley, Louise Haigh says the Government needs to ensure GPs get "consistent supplies of the vaccine" so they can continue to deliver their vital work.
She wants to see transparency from the Government:
Dr Richard Vautrey from the British Medical Association says "NHS England nationally are trying to equalise the distribution and uptake of vaccinations across the country."
An NHS spokesperson said:
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has praised the speed at which the vaccine rollout has gone so far across Yorkshire - but he said the government has got to make sure that vaccination is fair right across the UK
England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said it's about the number of vaccinations that need to be given out.