GPs 'confident' no vaccine will be wasted ahead of huge delivery
Vaccine expected to have short shelf life
Doctors in Northern Ireland say they have 'no concerns about wastage' as a huge delivery of the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccine is expected in Northern Ireland.
Two batches are due to arrive here shortly but it is understood the vials have a short shelf life and are due to expire at the end of March.
As part of the twin track approach in Northern Ireland, doctors are administering the Oxford Astrazeneca vaccines, while staff at the vaccination sites administer the Pfizer BioNtech jab.
Dr Laurence Dorman is the Chair of the Royal College of GPs in Northern Ireland.
He says he is confident they can work their way through the consignment without any going to waste:
"GPs will work hard and will ensure it is administered quickly and very, very little of it will be wasted, we have no concerns about the short shelf life.
"All through the Covid-19 vaccination campaign we've been keeping a close eye on wastage of the vaccine, GPs are well aware that this is a very precious commodity and a very precious resource.
"To date there's been very little wastage in general practice."
Downtown Cool FM has asked the Health and Social Care Board for comment.