GPs in some regions of the UK are now ready to begin vaccinating over-70’s after finishing their roll out to other prioritised groups. But local NHS leaders have denied the faster surgeries more jabs due to limited vaccine supply.
Dr Mark Porter stated his practice in the Cotswolds had finished vaccinating the majority of the over-80’s in the area, but were told to not proceed with rolling out the jab top over-70’s by local NHS bosses.
He said: “Our vaccine team is being put on pause as supplies and resources diverted to areas that still have higher risk groups to jab.
“I absolutely understand the decision but, if we had more vaccine, it wouldn’t be us or them but everyone together.
“Politically [it is] more acceptable for GPs and hospitals to be seen to be slow… but not the super hubs. I am hoping someone better placed than me is going to reassure me that we are not robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
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Regional data is not available in the NHS and Government’s daily and weekly information sheets, but the UK’s total vaccinations reached 2,474,205 on Monday
According to the data sheets, 2,080,280 of the jabs were the first dose and 3,93,925 were the second needed for immunity.
It comes after the Government unveiled plans to turn theatres and hotels into mass vaccination centres, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans for 15 million people to receive a coronavirus jab by February 15.
In a document published on Monday, the Government predicted 32 million doses of coronavirus vaccines should be administered by spring, which would cover everyone over 50 years old as well as younger petiole with health issues.
The UK recorded a further 45,533 cases of coronavirus and 1,243 deaths within 28 days of a positive test yesterday.
In total, the UK has recorded 3,164,051 cases of the virus and 83,203 deaths.
It also comes as coronavirus patients are now being sent to hotels and to London’s Nightingale hospital.
Lucy Watson, head of the Patients Association said to the Guardian: “This is a dire situation, in which the NHS often has no good options available.
“Discharging patients early from hospital is likely to be one of few options open to the NHS to manage the scale of the current need.
“However, early discharge can often cause problems that result in harm to the patient and the need to re-admit them.”
