Bristol South MP demands clarity from Government over vaccinations rollout
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, has this week demanded more clarity and transparency from the Government over the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. The call comes as it was revealed that although Ashton Gate Stadium is ready to go as a regional vaccine hub, working in partnership with the Clinical Commissioning Group, the Government have not yet explicitly set out their expectations for the hub, or let those involved know when they will begin to receive supplies of vaccines to use.
Bristol GPs have also expressed concern that recent Government announcements regarding the number of weekly vaccinations and the fluctuating period between people accessing the first and second dose of the vaccine are creating more confusion both for those delivering the vaccine and those receiving it.
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said:
“We will always be indebted to the researchers, volunteers and NHS professionals who have worked at incredible pace to bring us a vaccine so rapidly – but we now find ourselves with a new set of challenges. The Covid-19 vaccination programme will be the most complex task ever undertaken by our NHS, and it is vital that this Tory Government – which has been found wanting at so many points during this pandemic – do not let down the incredible NHS staff who continue to go above and beyond to tackle this pandemic.
“The Government must provide more details on who will be given what vaccine, where and when, so that those administering the vaccine and those receiving it can have confidence in the safety and efficacy of the rollout. I’ll continue to press for more clarity so that together we can roll out the vaccine and rebuild our country”.