Physicians told the newspaper that doctors organizing clinics to administer doses of the vaccine are sometimes left with extra doses, but NHS England has warned them not to use them on prescription. staff or other patients who have already received their first dose.
Some are thought to reject this guidance, but others have feared that the supply of the vaccine could be delayed if they do not comply.
Dr Robert Morley, director of professional support at Birmingham Local Medical Committee, described the rules as ‘extremely productive, insensitive and silly’.
He explained how the short-term warning of the clinics may cause some patients to be absent, and uncertainty about the supply of the vaccine can make it difficult to predict how many doses are needed.
This means that clinicians often find themselves with some doses left.
Morley said the ‘logical thing to do is to use it as a second dose for healthcare workers, for example, which may be in the building,’ but he believes it is a ‘strong mandate’ from NHS England no one should if you get a second dose is explained literally by local NHS managers.
Morley said some GPs in Birmingham use a ‘very strong’ approach and argue that there is no alternative but to give second doses, but that others’ feel more secure and more at risk ‘.
He said some are concerned that GP contracts and vaccine funding are being withheld if they do not comply.
Dr Brian McGregor, a GP who chairs the British Medical Association’s regional committee in Yorkshire, said NHS England had told its clinical commissioning body to throw out unused doses instead of taking a second dose. passed.
He said: “They will have control over our contracts, payments, vaccine supply, regulation, and can make life unstable.”
The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, which currently makes up much of the UK supply, needs to be stored at very low temperatures and can only be used for a few days after disinfection and is its lower shelf life outside the fridge.
4 days agoDr Julia Patterson, of Every Doctor, an organization that campaigns to protect the NHS and staff, said her group had reports from six workplaces saying doctors had been told to ‘waste’ vaccine doses put at the end of the day instead of giving the NHS second doses of staff ’.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the BMA council, said: “There are reports of vaccine sites feeling under pressure to dispose of unused doses of the Pfizer vaccine. This is completely impossible and morally wrong. ‘denying a genuine person a genuine opportunity to be protected from serious illness or even death.
“The BMA is already urging health and social care workers to receive a second dose as soon as possible in line with WHO guidelines, and with so many vulnerable patients still needing the vaccine, it should not any reason to receive such a valuable vaccine should be thrown out.
“NHS England urgently needs to make it clear that doctors and staff are allowed to make sure they can make the most of unused vaccines, instead of going to waste. ”
A spokesman for NHS England told LADbible: “There is no reason why the vaccine should be consumed.
“Local vaccination sites should manage their appointment lists to ensure meetings are complete and have a back-up list of patients and staff who receive the vaccine without much notice.”