Resort MPs and health chiefs respond to North West Covid vaccine supply cuts

The vaccine cuts were reported by the Health Service Journal to come as a result of national jabs shortages from UK-based AstraZeneca and US firm Pfizer, amid production problems.

Health bosses across the region condemned the plans, fearing that a diversion of the North West's vaccines to areas further behind in their roll-out, including London and the South East, would see the region become "a victim of its own success."

But the NHS and Conservative ministers said the Government's plans were still on track to hit vaccination targets.

Jane Scattergood, Covid-19 vaccination director for NHS Lancashire, assured the public everyone in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's top four priority categories would still receive their first vaccine, despite reduced numbers.

Ms Scattergood said: "We will complete the top four JCVI priorities by mid-February, even on the reduced vaccine supply.

"We're looking to national NHS leaders and central Government to continue to work hard to increase the supply."

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said supplies "are tight, because these are new manufacturing processes," but he was "confident" the Government would achieve its target of vaccinating the four priority groups with their first doses before February 15.

But Lancashire chiefs slammed the plans, insisting that cuts to jab supplies in the North West would exacerbate health inequalities in the county even further.

Angie Ridgwell, chairman of the Lancashire Resilience Forum, said the plans would "jeopardise" Lancashire's successful vaccine roll-out.

"The roll out of the vaccine has been phenomenal in Lancashire," Ms Ridgwell said.

"Lancashire has the highest proportion of vaccinations in the North and one of the highest in the country. That is all down to the hard work and dedication of our local NHS, supported by other public bodies.

"This success cannot be jeopardised. We should not be penalised because other parts of the country have not done as good a job as us."

Blackpool Council's director of public health, Dr Arif Rajpura, also condemned the supply cuts, highlighting the Winter Gardens' 24-hour availability to administer the jabs.

"The north of England has suffered disproportionately throughout this pandemic and it therefore seems unjust for the Government to take a decision that flies in the face of the need to tackle health inequalities," Dr Rajpura said.

“Many areas of the North West have faced consistently high levels of COVID-19 infection since the summer and have faced ongoing severe restrictions.

"The vaccine offers us the opportunity to get back to some degree of normality later in the year so that we can start to protect lives and livelihoods and get our children back into school."

"When the vaccination programme was announced, Lancashire and the North West hit the ground running in terms of getting our hubs operational, as exhibited here in Blackpool where the Winter Gardens is now open and ready to move to a 24-hour service if required.

"There is no sense in taking away that impetus."

The Gazette contacted resort MPs Scott Benton for Blackpool South, and Paul Maynard for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, about the planned cuts.

Mark Menzies, MP for Fylde, was also contacted. Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, was unavailable and Ben Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North, did not respond.

Mr Menzies, Mr Benton and Mr Maynard were asked whether vaccine supplies would be cut in their constituencies, and where they would be sent to if so.

They were also asked how the planned jabs cuts from February would affect residents in Blackpool and Fylde.

None answered these questions, but did support the continuation of the vaccine roll-out on its current successful trajectory.

Mr Maynard said: "I am aware of these reports – one reason I am in regular touch with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi.

"With over 70 per cent of the priority groups targeted locally having been vaccinated, we’re clearly making good progress, as I will be seeing on Friday when volunteering at Thornton Little Theatre.

"Now is not the time to slow down – the sooner we can get all our vulnerable patients vaccinated, the better. This is especially true where some local areas were slower to start than others.

"Reducing our supply to assist other regions is not the answer – not least as their lower vaccination rates relate to organisational matters rather than vaccine availability. It is this which should be addressed”.

Mr Benton, MP for Blackpool South, said: "The North West is being provided with the vaccinations needed to offer a vaccine to all people aged 70 and above, everyone on the clinically extremely vulnerable list, and health care workers.

"I recently visited one of Blackpool’s vaccine hubs, Whitegate Drive Health Centre, to see how the vaccine is being administered locally. Thousands of vaccines have been delivered to people in Blackpool from this health centre, and across the town the vast majority of people in the priority groups have already received a vaccine.

"I am pleased that we are on track to meet the Government’s ambitious target to vaccinate the top priority groups by mid-February locally here in Blackpool, as well as nationally."

Mr Menzies, MP for Fylde, said: "I am in regular contact with the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi and the Government has always insisted on a deadline of February 15 for the top four most vulnerable cohorts of people to receive this vaccine across the country.

"That has not changed and despite the large proportion of older residents here in Fylde, we have more than enough vaccines to reach that target as per the vaccine roll out programme.

"In Fylde we are well ahead of that schedule thanks to the dedication of our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, NHS staff and volunteers, a fact that we should be celebrating and shouting from the rooftops."