Mayor welcomes vaccine but warns over staffing

A MASSIVE 35,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have already been distributed across Greater Manchester – and more are set to follow.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says 12,000 of the vaccines were given at hospital hubs, and 23,000 via the region’s primary care network. Mr Burnham said 25 per cent of Greater Manchester’s new coronavirus cases are attributable to the new strain of Covid-19.

He said Greater Manchester leaders agreed with the government’s decision to place the region under the strict Tier 4 restrictions as a ‘preventative’ measure.

Mr Burnham also welcomed the approval of the Oxford University-Astra Zeneca vaccine. There are now 28 vaccination sites operational across the region, mostly in hospital sites and across the primary care network.

Mr Burnham added: “It’s really encouraging. We’re beginning to see progress being made.

“One issue identified is not so much availability of the vaccine or facilities, but the staffing of the sites.”

To remedy this potential staff shortage, the mayor is putting out the call for staff – including those recently retired – to return to help with vaccine distribution.

“There’s got to be a real focus to get as much of the vaccine out as possible. I would give a concern that this is not achievable without the staffing levels we need.

“We need to find those extra staffing resources. It would be that that would pose the risk, not availability of the vaccine – and that’s why we’re looking at making an appeal to recently retired staff to come and help distribute it,” he said.