We must learn from Fife errors
The continued roll out of coronavirus vaccines in Scotland will be an enormous source of optimism for everyone, however, there have certainly been bumps in the road so far.
At this stage recriminations and bluster don’t seem a helpful form of politics but it’s equally important that mistakes are acknowledged, understood and learnt from.
That’s why recent experiences in nearby Fife are particularly frustrating.
As a member of the Scottish Parliament’s COVID committee, I questioned the health secretary about what lessons had been learnt from the many problems associated with distributing the flu vaccine last year and she stressed the need for a national booking strategy.
But last week people were left queueing in freezing conditions after a problem with the national booking system led to thousands of appointments being double booked.
NHS Tayside has yet to move over to the new system and that is also cause for concern. As we move further down the priority list and start to vaccinate larger groups of people, it’s essential that health boards are ready for new challenges.
Officials at NHS Tayside need to look closely at the situation that emerged in Fife, learn from it, and make sure it’s not repeated here.
But the longer they delay the switch over to the national booking system, the greater the likely impact of any glitch that does occur.
The programme is now moving at pace, and the desire for speed is understandable but does open the possibility of people being left behind.
Mass vaccination centres are an important tool but there should also be a role for GP surgeries, particularly in rural Perthshire.
Supporting GPs in more remote areas to reach out to their older and vulnerable patients minimises the risk that those living far from the nearest vaccine centre are lost in the rush to move down the vaccine priority list.
Direct contact from trusted individuals could also help promote vaccine uptake.
While the rates are high, those missing out are disproportionately from disadvantaged areas and we need to do everything we can to change that by building confidence in the vaccine.
We also must not forget the importance of testing and safety measures among the excitement of a vaccine.
The tragic death of Scott Hunter after an outbreak at a council recycling centre near Crieff was a stark reminder of that fact.
Employers have a duty of care to their staff and, in this case, the Health and Safety Executive clearly found that Perth and Kinross Council had failed in that duty.
It should also prompt consideration of how we prioritise vaccine distribution once the priority list has been completed.
Certain professions, in the main those who can’t work from home, are more likely to be exposed to the virus than others and we need to ensure those who’ve kept our vital services running are protected as far as possible.
We’ve all been living under the restrictions together for the last year.
It’s been hard and taken a toll on all of us in different ways, but it has been the only way to save as many lives as possible.
Now with the vaccine offering the chance of a return to something like normality, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of a sense of fairness and ensure that nobody is left behind as we begin the recovery.