GPS have vaccine supply cut
GPS leading the vaccine rollout have had deliveries halved by the NHS so other parts of the country can catch up.
Doctors in the North East and Yorkshire have been told their promised supply of Covid-19 vaccine will be cut next week because they had raced so quickly through the priority groups.
Meanwhile, some GPS in the South East were accused of holding up the rollout by refusing to administer the Pfizer jab, and in some cases demanding more money for administering the vaccine.
In one part of East Sussex, just one surgery was vaccinating elderly people in an area covering 200 square miles.
By today 5 million people will have received their first Covid jab, up from 2million last week. A record 363,508 were administered yesterday.
However, the move to cut deliveries raised questions about national supply, with a Whitehall source admitting the situation was “precarious”, with Pfizer and Astrazeneca delaying deliveries.
Sources told the Health Service Journal that Yorkshire and the North East, promised 200,000 doses for next week, had the allocation cut to 100,000.
One doctor in Northumberland wrote on social media: “Sadly no Covid vaccine clinics next week as no vaccine being supplied.” It prompted Dr Nikki Kanani, the NHS primary care director, to reply: “Congratulations – this means you’ve made great progress on your most vulnerable to Covid/priority cohorts.
We are making sure this opportunity is afforded to all across the country at similar rates.”
NHS data released yesterday revealed a “postcode lottery” in vaccination rates. In the North East and Yorkshire
67 per cent of over-80s had a first dose, compared with 49 per cent in London and 58 per cent in the South East.
Tory MPS in Sussex and Kent were understood to have concerns at the number of practices and care networks opting out of administering the vaccine.
One MP alleged “unseemly wrangling” from GPS over how much they would be paid for checking patient lists and inoculating patients.
Practices are understood to have complained about the added workload, while others insisted they had no means to store the frozen Pfizer vaccine.
In Bexhill and Battle, just one surgery was vaccinating patients. Huw Merriman, the local MP, said practices were “waiting” for the Oxford jab, which could be stored in a standard fridge.
Mr Merriman said: “In rural areas we are well versed with waiting, but this isn’t a bus service, it’s a life-saving vaccine and there should not be a postcode lottery as to availability.”
In neighbouring Kent, only one primary care network out of three in Dover and Deal was vaccinating residents. Natalie Elphicke, MP for the area, said residents were “disappointed” but added “things are definitely improving”.
Dr Richard Vautrey, for the British Medical Association, said the number of GPS opting out of vaccinations was limited to “pockets” around the country. “The vast majority of GPS are raring to go and are only waiting for supplies,” he said. “Money is a secondary concern for GPS, but they do need support to carry out this work.”
Last week health officials offered GPS extra financial incentives to speed up rollout of jabs to care homes. They were offered triple rates for every care home resident in an attempt to persuade family doctors to speed up the programme.
Until last week, GPS were paid £10 per care home patient given the vaccine, on top of a basic £12.58 per jab.
Last week an “enhanced payment” of £30 was made for every patient jabbed by Sunday, falling to £20 for later cases.
Yesterday, the Health Secretary said two thirds of care home residents had now had their first dose of the vaccine.
The NHS said: “All available vaccine doses are being delivered to vaccination sites and every Gp-led vaccination site is receiving a delivery this week.”