GPs call for better vaccine supply to South Yorkshire
It comes as the Government hits its vaccine target of 15 million people
Doctors in South Yorkshire say the supply of the coronavirus vaccine to clinics across Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield needs to be improved if the rollout is to keep up its pace.
The government is expected to confirm the UK's reached its target of offering a first dose to everyone in the four top priority groups, as 15 million people have now received the vaccine.
Sheffield GP Dr Ollie Hart says the rollout has gone brilliantly in the city so far, but the supply of the jab coming in has made it difficult. He said: "I don't want to point any fingers of blame - I suspect it has been a really hard thing to do. But, the supply chain has definitely affected us, mostly because we have had very short notice of when it is coming. It has meant we have had to invite people over the telephone at the last minute.
"I think, to some degree, it has affected people who may be hardest to convince and draw in for the vaccine, perhaps some of the most vulnerable.
"We are having to have conversations and talk people round and reassure them on a one to one basis. If we don't have a clinic stretched out ahead of us that we can book them in to it makes it much harder. But, we do get round that - general practice is very adaptable."
Andrew Lee, a public health expert at Sheffield University, now expects younger people to start being offered the vaccine. He says it will be a few weeks before we start to see the full effect of the jabs though: "We might start to see a reduction in death rates or severe illness and hospitalisation rates in the target groups - people in care homes or over the age of 80, for example.
"It will take a while for this effect to come through in full. I think we are all waiting on tenterhooks to see that effect in the next few weeks."
The health secretary, Matt Hancock, says there's 'no rest for the wicked', as the next stage of the coronavirus rollout gathers pace in England.
Over-65s and the clinically vulnerable are now being invited to get vaccinated.