Liz Smith MSP has called on NHS Tayside to set out its plans for delivery of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination programme following the announcement that it has been approved.
The politician, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region for the Scottish Conservatives, described the announcement about the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine being approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the UK as “tremendous news” but she is now calling on NHS Tayside to publicise vaccination details.
Commenting, Liz Smith said: “We had been told that a vaccine could start to be rolled out by Christmas to vulnerable residents but to actually have this confirmed is fantastic. It gives us all hope that we can get back to some semblance of normality sometime next year.
“However, officials have said the Pfizer vaccine will be made available ‘from next week’ so I have written to NHS Tayside to ask for clarification on various matters concerning the vaccination programme.
“This includes asking NHS Tayside how many qualified staff are available and how many are required to deliver the vaccine. I’ve also asked health bosses if there are not enough staff currently available, where will the staff required be recruited from?
“We need to know if staff will be moved from frontline services to deliver the vaccine and, if so, what impact this will have on primary care services in Tayside.”
Liz Smith continued: “In addition, I have also asked NHS Tayside if they are confident that they have sufficient storage capacity, including any specialist equipment required, to hold sufficient supplies for the vaccination programme. And we need to be told how the vaccine will be distributed from central storage facilities to sites where the vaccine will be administered.
“Specifically, I have asked NHS Tayside how the vaccine will be delivered in care homes; GP practices; vulnerable people receiving care in the community and NHS staff. And I have asked the health board what communications has taken place so far with the Scottish Government regarding delivery of the Covid vaccine.
“The news about the vaccine is tremendous but we need NHS Tayside to set out its plans for delivery now.”
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has shown in studies to be 95% effective and works in all age groups. The UK has already ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine – enough to vaccinate 20 million people.