‘Low supply weeks’ of vaccine explained
TEMPORARY CLOSURES OF SITES BEFORE ‘BUMPER’ SUPPLY
COVID vaccine supply will slow down in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland this week, it is understood.
Vaccination sites across the area will be receiving fewer doses than in previous weeks, due to what have been described as “low supply weeks”.
A source said that “low supply weeks were planned into the national vaccination programme over this week” and added that a “bumper” supply will be delivered across the country to kick in the week after as efforts to vaccinate all over-50s by mid-April pick up pace.
Caroline Trevithick, chief nurse at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s clinical commissioning groups, told a health scrutiny meeting: “We are on a ‘just in time’ model so we have enough capacity to deliver the vaccines we are issued, so at the moment some of that capacity isn’t in use because we know we have a reduced amount of supply across the whole country.
“But we also know, from March 15, the number of vaccines coming into the system increases tremendously and we are matching our capacity to meet that.
“That will coincide with additional cohorts being open so we have got the people coming through as much as we have the vaccine coming in.”
As a result of the lower supply making its way to the area, it is understood some hospital hubs will temporarily closing or operating at a reduced capacity over this week.
Hospital hubs were originally set up to provide staff vaccinations but have been offering appointments in addition to the existing vaccine venues across the city and counties, as and when supply has been available.
From time to time there will be planned temporary closures or reduced hours at the hubs as a result of lower supply, but this will not impact on the local rollout or the drive to meet the government’s midApril target of offering a first dose to all over-50s.
There are more than 25 venues across the city, county and Rutland giving the injections, including a mass vaccination site at the Peepul Centre, pharmacists, GP surgeries and sites such as the Leicester Racecourse.
Health bosses have said that all those who are eligible for a jab will still be invited and all of the vaccine doses arriving in the city will be used as quickly as possible.
Health workers in the area have been told the lull is down to work to increase capacity in the manufacture of the vaccine.
Data released recently showed a drop off in the number of vaccines being given locally.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock updated MPs in the House of Commons on the vaccine rollout last week. He described day-to-day vacbe cine supply as “lumpy”. “I’m pleased to inform the House that we’re now inviting over-60s to be vaccinated too, although the day-to-day figures of supply are lumpy, we have some bumper weeks ahead later this month,” he said.
“Given that our vaccination programme began 12 weeks ago, from now we begin in earnest our programme of second vaccinations which ramps up over the month of March.
“I can assure the House that we have factored these second jabs into our supply projections and we’re on track to meet our target of offering a vaccine to all priority groups one to nine by April 15 and all adults by the end of July.”
RESIDENTS of Hinckley and Bosworth will be paying an average of £5 more for local council services in 2021/22.
The increase means Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s portion of council tax bills in the coming financial year will be £139.87 for a band D property, which covers most residents.
The new charges were approved at a recent council budget meeting.
The figure will be supplemented by the charges levied by Leicestershire County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire Authority, which are £1,410.78, £248.23, £69.29 respectively for a band D property.
Council bosses said increasing their portion of council tax would enable them to plan with more certainty over the three years to 2034/24, and to operate a balanced budget, while maintaining services year on year.
Residents can pay their bill annually, half-yearly or monthly.
In a full year, the monthly instalments will normally be paid from April to January, however, residents can also opt to pay their council tax over 12 instalments if they prefer.
Councillor Keith Lynch, executive member responsible for finance, said: “The last thing that the borough council wants to do at this time, during the coronavirus pandemic, when many are suffering financial hardship, is to increase the council tax, but considerable reductions in government support grants have put heavy pressure on the council’s finances.
“In the last spending review, the Government promised new money for local government but it transpired that over 80 per cent of that ‘new money’ needed to come from increased coun
Even after the increase the Hinckley and Bosworth council tax will still be among the lowest in the country. Cllr Lynch, pictured
cil tax. Therefore we have to raise the borough council tax by £5 (10p a week) to try to maintain our present level of public services.
“I am pleased to be able to say that even after the increase the Hinckley and Bosworth council tax will still be among the lowest in the country.”
Residents across Leicestershire face a 5 per cent rise in the county component of their council tax bills from April.
County Hall’s share of the tax will rise by the maximum 1.99 per cent allowed, while the adult social care precept has also been increased by the maximum permitted – 2.99 per cent.
That equates to £5.59 a month for a Band D house.
Last week my turn came to be vaccinated and I went along to our local leisure centre.
I was amazed not only by the efficiency of the whole process but particularly by the cheerfulness of the many people who have been volunteering in order for this to be able to happen.
They were courteous and kind, even at the end of a long day. It is heart-warming, in the present climate to see people still willing to give of their time freely and regularly for others.
I also had the painful experience of going into two Covid 19 wards in two different hospitals to pray with people who were dying.
The care of the staff there is beyond compare but it has taken a huge toll on them.
Having to be dressed in ‘space suits’ all day and to be so meticulous about changing their clothes immediately when they get home, to say nothing of seeing people dying in such difficult circumstances and having to help them say a virtual ‘goodbye’ to their relatives has clearly affected them deeply.
When I asked them how they were doing, some of them began to cry and freely open up about the strain and stress they had been experiencing daily for many months.
As we now seem to be thinking about what we call the ‘roadmap’ out of this nightmare and maybe planning activities for ourselves and our families once again, let us not forget these wonderful people whom we were gratefully clapping last spring, for the long-term effect on them will be very telling.
It has been likened by some to the PTSD experienced by soldiers coming home from conflict abroad.
Can we not hope that the same caring cheerfulness, courtesy and sensitivity offered to us at the vaccination centres, should now be extended to those front-line carers who may need it for a long time to come and who have and will pay a great price for what they have done for all of us?
In our drive to ‘return to normality,’ whatever that may be, please let us not forget them.
Father Frank Daly