Key worker fury as age gets priority

the country out of the pandemic.” John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, said: “There’s palpable anger about how we have been completely disregarded in this phase.

“This is a very deep, damaging betrayal.”

The Metropolitan Police Federation said 29 officers had died. Chairman Ken Marsh said the Government is “creating a superspreader scenario”.

Ethnic minorities and people living in poorer areas are known to be at greater risk but will not be prioritised.

Phase 1 will offer a jab to the first nine priority groups covering the over 50s by mid-April. Then stage 2 will offer first doses to the final three groups until the end of July, bringing the total to around 50 million.

The JCVI said trying to vaccinate key workers first within an age grouping would only mean individuals were inoculated a week earlier – but it would slow down the whole rollout.

Prof Van-Tam said: “Worry less about exactly where you are in the queue but be reassured the queue is moving really fast.”

Prof Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chair for the JCVI, was questioned by the

Mirror about the risk of unvaccinated teachers bringing home the virus.

He insisted prioritising by age is still the quickest way to cut hospital stays, adding: “Speed is important.”

Newly released SAGE papers agreed that age is the “highest risk factor” for deaths from the virus.

But in a paper on February 11 its environmental modelling group said: “Occupation may have an important impact on the likelihood they will be exposed and become infected.”

NHS bosses welcomed the move to continue to prioritise by age. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Until everyone is protected, no one is protected.”

The Government said all four UK nations would take the same strategy.

Daily deaths were reported as 345 yesterday, with 8,523 new cases.

Hospital admissions fell by 40% in the past fortnight but wards are busy.

This a very deep betrayal, we have been completely disregarded in this phase

JOHN APTER NATIONAL CHAIR OF THE POLICE FEDERATION