VAXIMUM SECURITY
MI5 warns Government to keep vaccine location top secret Care home residents to be vaccinated from December 14
MI5 has warned the Scottish Government to keep the location of the the vaccine top secret over fears about its security.
Health secretary Jean Freeman yesterday revealed they’d been contacted by the UK intelligence agency about the 65,500 doses to be stored in 23 massive freezers.
Freeman told MSPs: “They are located across all our health boards and island authorities. I would wish to advise members where they are but I have to say, and this is not a reason for not doing that, but National Security which is part of MI5 is very unsure about the wisdom of making public where our storage is for what is a very precious vaccine indeed.”
It comes as the start date for the vaccination of Scots care home residents was announced as December 14 – just six days after the roll-out programme begins in Scotland.
On Wednesday, the Medical and Health products Regulation Authority gave the green light to the Pfizer vaccine for use in the UK – the first country in the world to have an approved vaccine.
But while priority is to be given to those over the age of 80 and care home residents, there were fears logistical problems in delivering the virus because of the ultra low temperatures at which it needs to be stored may have prevented those in care homes getting the drug.
It was initially thought the residents would have to travel to the vaccination centres but this would have been impossible for the extremely frail.
However, as she delivered her ministerial statement on the vaccination programme, Freeman announced a solution had been reached with the MHRA.
She said: “The Pfizer vaccine has specific storage and transportation requirements of exceptionally low temperature and limited transportation time once taken out of that low temperature environment.
“It also comes to us in pack sizes of 997 doses. All of that poses particuar logistical challenges in vaccinating individuals close to their home; so clearly a challenge in vaccinating care home residents and for elderly citizens who live in their own home.
“But I am very pleased to say over lunchtime today, in detailed discussions led by our chief pharmaceutical officer, we have confirmation that the Pfizer vaccine can be transported in an unfrozen state for up to 12 hours and can be stored undiluted for up to five days.
“I am also pleased to confirm under certain conditions we can pack down into smaller pack sizes, both of which makes this vaccine more useable with minimum wastage for care home residents and for our older citizens.
“In effect, we can take the vaccine to them or close to them and we will begin that exercise from December 14.”
Freeman confirmed some elderly people may be vaccinated in their own homes or at mobile vaccination units.
She said from Tuesday, December 8, the programme would begin vaccinating the vaccinators and then work through the first cohorts of health and social care workers.
The first phase of agerelated vaccinations should be completed by spring and then the remainder of the adult population will be vaccinated.
Two thousand vaccinators and support staff will be required by January to carry out the programme.
Freeman said recruitment and deployment of staff was already under way but the 160 required for the start next week were already in place.
She added: “The vaccine aims to reduce mortality and morbidity from Covid-19 and the guidance prioritises those most at risk on an age basis.
“The only exception to this is the health and social care sector and health and social care workforce, who are in the first priority group along with those aged 80 and over and care home residents.”
She said this group will cover almost 99 per cent of vaccine preventable deaths from Covid-19. Scotland will receive 65,600 doses of the vaccine this month – enough to vaccinate 32,800 people. Two doses of the vaccine need to be taken about 21 days apart.
Freeman said over the next few weeks information on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, together with delivery plans, would be delivered to every home.
She admitted: “A vaccination programme of this scale is a significant logistical challenge and requires a major nationwide effort but it is one we undertake with optimism and determination to succeed.
“There will no doubt be glitches on the way and unexpected difficulties to overcome but science has excelled once again to give us hope.”
Earlier, speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon said the vaccine was “a significant landmark in our collective struggle” against the virus.
She added: “What is absolutely beyond any question is that the safe delivery of this vaccine is the absolute priority and it is in all of our interests to make sure that elderly care home residents get vaccinated just as quickly as is possible.”
Sturgeon announced a further 51 deaths from coronavirus and 958 more positive cases.
She said: “There is no issue more important to this Government right now than making sure this vaccination programme works effectively and efficiently, that as soon as we have supplies of vaccine they are used to vaccinate people in the order of priority.”
The vaccine can be transported unfrozen for up to 12 hours JEANE FREEMAN ON STORAGE RELIEF
QWHENQ WHEN WILL THE PFIZER VVACCINEACCINE ARRIVE IN SCOTLAND? AIt will arrive within the next few days and will be taken to freezers in vaccination centres ready for the first people to be vaccinated on Tuesday, December 8. QHOW WILL PEOPLE IN CARE HOMES GET IT? AWhile the vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees, once defrosted, it can be transported in an unfrozen state for 12 hours and stored undiluted for up to five days, which will enable the drug to be taken from centres into care homes or into individual houses. QWHO AScots vaccinators will be among the first in the world to receive the vaccine ahead of the first phase of the vaccination programme. Q A People over the age of 80, care home residents and staff will be next in line for the vaccine. Q AExperts believe this group will cover almost 99 per cent of vaccine preventable deaths from Covid-19.
WILL BE THE FIRST TO GET THE VACCINE? WHO WILL BE NEXT IN LINE TO GET IT? WHY WILL THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE BE FIRST TO BE VACCINATED? QWHEN WILL THE VACCINATION PROGRAMME BE COMPLETED? AThe
first phase of age and medical related vaccinations should be complete by the spring. The remainder of the adult population will receive their jabs after that. But completion dates are uncertain because a lot will depend on how quickly the drug can be manufactured and the approval of other vaccines could speed up the process. QWILL AYes.
Whether you live on an island, a rural part of the country or a city, you will get the same chance of vaccination. The doses will be allocated to health boards proportionately based on population. QWILL AThe
NHS are currently recruiting staff and will need 2000 vaccinators and support staff by the end of January. Many of the staff will be experienced vaccinators already involved in the flu programme but specific training is being given on an ongoing basis and will be overseen by pharmacists.
EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY GET THE SAME ACCESS TO THE VACCINE? THERE BE ENOUGH STAFF TO CARRY OUT THE WORK AND WHAT TRAINING WILL THEY HAVE?