Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
JAB DELAYS
Under-50s face wait until May
Vaccine supply issues have seen a drastic slump in the number of first doses delivered across the district, with under-50s potentially having to wait until next month to be jabbed.
Latest figures show just 1,889 people received their initial vaccine in the week up to April 4 - less than a fifth of the 9,579 injected across a bumper week a fortnight before.
Local GPS say supplies have “dried up”, with what vaccine there is available now primarily ring-fenced for those due their second dose.
It comes as the government this week announced all over50s have been offered a first dose, with those aged 45-49 now able to book in for a jab as part of phase two of the immunisation programme.
But Whitstable GP Dr John Ribchester - the clinical director for the town’s Primary Care Network - says they may have to wait until next month. “In Whitstable, we have had just 400 doses in the last week, which is a third of one clinic. Previously we were doing two clinics a week, each of 1,200 doses, and going really well. “Now we have been told that we may have to wait until May for supplies for the 45-49 age group, although apparently there is sufficient available for people to get their second jabs on time to get that important maximum immunity.
“It’s a national shortage and we just have to wait for Kent and Medway to tell us what’s happening.”
The picture is the same in Herne Bay and largely as predicted, says its PCN clinical director Dr Jeremy Carter. “The reduction in numbers was essentially a foreseen event,” he said, “although there are apparently enough doses ring-fenced for second jab appointments.
“There was a surge in supply at the start of March but we were told that it would tail off and clearly there are some supply issues.
“But the supply and politics behind it is a very fast-changing landscape.”
Dr Ribchester believes when supplies pick up the roll-out will gather pace again as younger age groups see the vaccine as a ticket to more freedom. “They are mad keen to get it, partly due to their safety and partly because having the protection could well be linked with things like their ability to travel abroad or attend public events and attractions like theatres,” he said.
The tail-off in first dose levels has largely been due to supply shortages, including the loss of five million doses which had been ordered from a giant Indian manufacturer but were diverted to the country’s own needs following intervention by its government.
Despite the issues, the UK government says England is still on track to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July. This will be helped by the rollout of a third approved vaccine, made by Moderna, which joined the vaccines being distributed in Wales and Scotland last week. Kent and Medway health bosses say they have not yet heard whether they will be among the first districts to receive the drug and will continue to use both the Pfizer and Astrazeneca vaccines.. Those aged under 30 are to be offered the Moderna or Pfizer jabs as an alternative to the Astrazeneca vaccine due to evidence linking it to rare blood clots.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said there is “more than enough of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine” for the 8.5 million people under 30 who are yet to be vaccinated to have two doses.
Latest figures show more than a million first and second doses combined have now been delivered across Kent. Folkestone, Dover and Thanet have the most vaccinated populations with more than two thirds of adults having had their first dose. Canterbury and Dartford with their younger demographics - prop up the table with 57%, Overall, 62% of people in Kent have had their first jab.