Britain’s rollout of the vaccine has been successful to date – half of all UK adults are expected to have had their first jab by the end of the week. An NHS letter suggests, however, that a setback could be approaching in the form of a “significant reduction in the weekly supply” of Covid vaccines next month. The BBC has the story.
The NHS has warned of a “significant reduction in the weekly supply” of coronavirus vaccines next month in a letter to local health organisations.
The letter says there has been a “reduction in national inbound vaccines supply” and asks organisations to “ensure no further appointments are uploaded” to booking systems in April.
The Health Secretary said the letter, seen by the BBC, was “standard”.
The BBC understands no-one who has booked a vaccine should lose a slot.
Asked about it during a Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Matt Hancock said the NHS regularly sent out “technical letters” that explained the “ups and downs” of supply.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has been told that fewer AstraZeneca vaccines are available than expected.
The letter says that “over this next period it is vital” that health organisations focus on vaccinating those in the priority groups one to nine, who are most vulnerable to coronavirus.
It advises vaccination services to work with local authorities, voluntary community and faith organisations “to put in place reserve lists” of people eligible for the vaccine – as well as targeting areas of lower uptake.
Nick Triggle suggests that the increased risk of a vaccine shortage could be a result of the EU’s threat to restrict vaccine exports.
It is unclear what has caused this drop in supply. Government sources are suggesting the amount produced by manufacturers is below the expected yields. But this has been denied by those firms.
Given that we do rely on supply from Europe for some of our vaccine, the fact it comes on the day the EU warned it may restrict exports has raised questions whether this might be part of the cause.
The number of doses available may drop to under two million a week in April. That is a little below what has been available in the past couple of weeks and will be half the level the NHS has been told it will have for the next two “bumper” weeks.
Worth reading in full.
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Outstanding news!
Hopefully the entire supply chain for the jab makers is crumbling to dust.
Reminds me of the saying ” The best-laid plans ”
A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the ability to fully or even partially execute them is uncertain.
Well if I were in govt and I’d just made the most humongous error in my vaccine campaign in the face of repeated pleas from eminent scientists, and many perturbed members of the public, I’d suddenly create a vaccine shortage.
I mean it’s one thing to turn a blind eye to the euthanising a load of olds who, despite surviving 18+ months of covid in the community died just after being vaccinated. It’s another thing entirely to cause the working well to up and die, be injured irreparably or become asymptomatic spreaders.
“Well shucks, we’re clean out of vax. We’ll just have to slow down delivery and open up, because… (now), Think of the kiddies. Think of the economy.”
If everyone used the “Lincolnshite rule”(TM)* the world would be a safer place.
* If they’ve given it to Lincolnshire, it’s shite. (Note we have only AZ vaccine, no Pfizer for us). (Also note, we were one of the first places they trialled the truly foul children’s nasal flu vaccine). We also have one of worst hospital trusts in the country, as a result of which we used to be rugged, (until glyphosate and pharmaceutical giants started tinkering with our winning formula).
My thoughts exactly
“Britain’s rollout of the vaccine has been successful to date … “
In the same sense as the Grand Old Duke of York was ‘successful’ in getting ’em up the hill?
This story doesn’t pass the sniff test, I’m afraid.
I think the real reason that vaccinations are stopping at the end of March with the over 50s, with under 50s remaining unvaccinated for the time being, is something else entirely.
Yes, looked at from another perspective this story does come off as a potential op.
Raab: The eu is behaving like ‘other countries with less democratic regimes’
Holmes: It is a cardinal feature of democratic regimes that voters can change the government. This is not the case within the European Union. Legislative power is divided between the Council, the Commission and the Parliament. But it is only the Parliament which is actually directly elected by the citizens. Therefore if a resulting European election were to change the composition of the Parliament this would not result in a majority policy change in Europe as the Parliament is one of three pillars which compose legislation.
Dr Watson: No shit………..
Isn’t it Fantastic when you CREATE AND CONTROL BOTH the Supply AND the Demand!?? An elementary Marketing strategy for the Gullible. Shortage of TOILET ROLLS!???? RUSH OUT & Buy some!! Yeahhhhhh……