‘Why do I need terrorism training to give a jab?’
NORTH Somerset MP Liam Fox yesterday urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stop “political correctness” hindering the the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
Former cabinet minister Dr Fox, a qualified but non-practising doctor, asked why he was being asked to complete courses on “conflict resolution, equality, diversity and human rights, moving and handling loads and preventing radicalisation” in order to give the jab.
Dr Fox, MP for North Somerset, said in the Commons: “Can I congratulate the Prime Minister on getting a world-leading vaccine strategy going.
“Clearly its success will depend both on the availability of the vaccine and the number of staff to administer it.
“As a qualified but non-practising doctor, I volunteered to help with the scheme and would urge others to do the same.
“But, can I ask the Prime Minister why I’ve been required to complete courses on conflict resolution, equality, diversity and human rights, moving and handling loads and preventing radicalisation in order to give a simple Covid jab?
“Can I urge him to get the NHS and the Department of Health to drop the bureaucracy, drop the political correctness and do all they can to actually get the vaccine programme moving.”
Mr Johnson replied that he has been “assured by the Health Secretary that all such obstacles, all such pointless pettifoggery has been removed”.
He added: “And there should be absolutely nothing to stop him from volunteering to be a vaccinator.”
Later, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs it is no longer necessary for individuals to undertake anti-terrorism training to administer vaccines.
Mr Hancock replied: “I can tell the House that we have removed a series of the unnecessary training modules that had been put in place, including fire safety, terrorism and others. It is not necessary to undertake anti-terrorism training in order to inject vaccines.”