VACCINATE US TOO!
RETIRED CONSULTANT’S FURY AS OUR AREA IS FORCED TO WAIT FOR VITAL COVID JAB
A RETIRED hospital consultant is furious that people in northern Lincolnshire are having to wait for the Covid vaccine.
The first vaccinations against coronavirus started on Tuesday in Lincolnshire and on Wednesday in Hull but people living in northern Lincolnshire are still waiting to find out when they will be called up for the jab.
It comes as the NHS has now finally revealed GP practices in North East Lincolnshire will start giving the first doses next week but there’s still no information on when vaccines will be available through a hub at both Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also confirmed more places will get the vaccine from next week at a Downing Street press conference on Thursday. But John Davies, 81, from Scartho has been waiting for his vaccine invitation and is concerned about the length of time that is passing. He said: “Grimsby deserves to be looked after every bit as much as the rest of the country.”
“They have it in Lincoln and at Hull, but not here.
“We are a Tier Three area and there are tier one areas, such as Cornwall which have the vaccine. It is obvious the south is receiving preferential treatment and we are relegated again.”
He urged the MP for Grimsby, Lia Nici to “stand up for our area.”
The retired paediatrician said the MP for Scunthorpe Holly MumbyCroft challenged Health Secretary, Matt Hancock in the House of Commons about the lack of vaccine in her constituency which is also a Tier Three restricted area.
Mr Davies said: “I would like to have the chance to have the vaccine.
Both my wife and I are in a high h risk category.
“I am an 81-year-old retired Consultant Paediatrician who is at risk due to age, male, high blood pressure but not obese.
“I served the people of Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham, Louth and Scunthorpe when needed for 25 years. My wifewill wife will be 80 in February. She served as a nurse and nursing sister for over 30 years.
“I am not sure the vaccine has been adequately tested but I would like to think it might be available here.”
A spokesperson for NHS North East Lincolnshire CCG, said: “A number of local practices are starting to invite and book eligible patients in for the first dose of their Covid vaccine prior to its arrival next week. Those invited will be patients over the age of 80, in line with the JCVI (The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) recommendation. The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have the vaccine. It’s important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.”
The NHS has been advised either 1.2 million or 1.6 million more doses will arrive next week, on top of the 800,00 800,000 doses this week, while the remain remainder of an initial four million doses for December will arrive the week after. a
A sp spokesman for the NHS in North East a and Yorkshire said patients aged 80 8 and above who are already attend attending hospital as an outpatient, and th those who are being discharged home after a hospital stay, will be among the first to receive the lifesaving jab.
Hos Hospitals will also begin inviting over 8 80s in for a jab and work with care h home providers to book their staff in to vaccination clinics. Vacc Vaccination centres treating large numb numbers of patients in sporting venues and an conference centres will subseque sequently stand up when further suppli supplies of vaccine come on stream. Their roll out will be announced in due course, the NHS spokesman said.
■ Grimsby MP Lia Nici was contacted for a response but has not responded to the Grimsby Telegraph.