On 20 January, local MP Robert Largan urged the Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, to accelerate the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine in High Peak, during an Urgent Question in Parliament.
The NHS has been working to vaccinate care home residents and staff, those aged 80 and over and frontline health and care staff as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. With the huge progress being made in the vaccination programme, this has been extended to those over 70 years old and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
The High Peak MP asked:
“So far, there are three vaccination centres up and running in High Peak. I pay tribute to all those who are working so hard to roll out the vaccine locally. However, currently, the rate of the roll-out is being limited, not by the number of vaccination sites or trained vaccinators, but by the supply of doses coming from AstraZeneca and Pfizer. Will the Secretary of State outline what steps he and his ministerial colleagues are taking to work with those pharmaceutical companies to help them ensure that the supply of vaccine continues to flow to High Peak as quickly as possible?”
The Health Secretary responded:
“My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the rate-limiting step is the amount of supply. We are working closely with the two companies, which are doing a terrific job. We talk to them all the time, in trying to ensure that any blockages are removed. They are going as fast as they can in producing the vaccine, whether that is the Oxford vaccine, produced here in this country, or the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, produced in Belgium and supplied to us. Everybody is working as fast as we can, and I am delighted that the NHS is champing at the bit for more supply in order to deliver it.
“Across Derbyshire, there have been more 70,000 vaccinations—70,332, according to the latest data I have, as of 17 January. Derbyshire has vaccinated 65% of its over-80s, which is almost exactly the national average of 67%. Derbyshire is doing a great job; I congratulate those in the NHS in Derbyshire and thank them for their efforts and their work. There is still a lot further to go, but almost two-thirds of Derbyshire’s over-80s have been vaccinated. We have to keep at it and keep working hard to make sure that all the vulnerable are protected, and then move on to the rest of us.”
Robert Largan MP commented:
“I’m determined to get the vaccine rolled out as quickly as possible. Every jab isn’t just saving lives, it’s a step closer to us easing restrictions and getting back to normal. That’s why I pressed the Health Secretary on the need to speed up the supply of the vaccine.
“We're making good progress with over 5 million people vaccinated, including over 70,000 in Derbyshire. This is good progress, but we have much more to do.
“I was also glad to get the chance to pay tribute to everyone who is working so hard to roll out the vaccine in High Peak. So many people are going above and beyond in really difficult circumstances. I know everyone in High Peak is incredibly grateful for their efforts!”
