Doctors have reported that the NHS is ordering them to throw away any excess Covid vaccine. Despite the task to vaccinate 15 million elderly and vulnerable people by the end of February leftover doses are being destroyed. The reason for the excess vaccine is due to missed appointments and a difficulty in predicting how many people will turn up. Dr Robert Morley of the Birmingham Local Medical Committee branded the waste ‘ridiculous’ and ‘bordering on the criminal’. He commented that the logical thing to do would be to use it as a second dose for healthcare workers already in the building working. He feared that letters sent by NHS England demanding no second jabs are given was being taken far too literally by local NHS managers.
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Ps are being forced to bin leftover vaccines rather than give patients second doses or use them on staff, according to reports.
Local NHS leaders are said to have issued the vaccine disposal instructions to doctors organising clinics.
GPs are struggling to book the exact number of appointments to match the doses of the vaccine which needs to kept at -70c, which adds another layer of difficulty.
Dr Robert Morley, the director of professional support at the Birmingham Local Medical Committee said the instructions were being reported by doctors across the country.
He told the Telegraph: This is ridiculous, bordering on the criminal, to actually be wasting vaccines when you have the worst global healthcare crisis for a century.
Updated: 17 Jan 2021, 3:34
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LOCAL NHS leaders are forcing doctors to throw away Covid vaccines rather than give second doses, a report has revealed.
GPs organising clinics at short notice told the Telegraph that they are being warned against using leftover doses on patients who have already had their first jab.
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NHS leaders are reportedly forcing doctors to throw away Covid vaccines rather than give second doses (File photo)Credit: Alamy Live News
While some are reportedly refusing to comply, others fear vaccine supplies will be cancelled if they defy instructions.
Dr Robert Morley, the director of professional support at the Birmingham Local Medical Committee, told the Telegraph the policy was “counterproductive”.