‘All over-50s could be vaccinated in just eight weeks’

A GP has said that all over 50s could be vaccinated within eight weeks.

Dr Simon Bradley tweeted saying that he estimated they “can complete the vaccination program in over 50s in just eight weeks with vaccine and workforce support”.

The tweet was in response to a Devon GP, Dr Katie Musgrave who asked in relation to the vaccines: “Do you think it could be done faster still? If extra 50 per cent or double payments were made available for PCNs (Primary Care Networks) who could double the rate of vaccination? Speed really is of the essence and GPs are excellent innovators.”

To which Dr Bradley replied: “Lack of vaccine is the rate-limiting step. In NHS Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) we have PCNs giving 1,000 vaccines/day. Practice-based vaccination like flu vaccination would drive numbers up. We estimate we can complete vaccination program in over 50s in just eight weeks with vaccine and workforce support.”

In response to Dr Bradley’s eightweek tweet, health bosses said the vaccination programme was the biggest the NHS had ever undertaken, and asked people to remember that it was a “marathon and not a sprint”.

A spokesperson for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG, said: “The Covid-19 vaccination is being rolled out to priority groups in line with the guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), specifically over 80s, care home residents and staff.

“This is the biggest vaccination programme the NHS has ever undertaken, so it is important to remember it is a marathon not a sprint. We are asking for the public to support us with this by not contacting the NHS to request a vaccine – when it is your turn to be vaccinated we will contact you to invite you.”