MP raises concerns after Covid vaccine deliveries are pushed back

Surgeries in East Durham have reported that delivery of the vaccine has been moved to the New Year, leading Easington MP Grahame Morris to ask Health Secretary Matt Hancock for answers amid rumours they are now destined for the South and South East.

The NHS County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it wanted to make the best possible use of its “limited vaccine supplies” and also wanted to avoid running a clinic on Christmas Day, when people may not attend.

Intra Health, which runs practices including the William Brown Centre in Peterlee, is among those effected.

In a Facebook message, it said: “We’re posting to inform our patients that due to circumstances completely out of our control, unfortunately our Covid-19 vaccination delivery has been pushed back until the New Year.

“We are just one of a number of practices in the area that have had their vaccine delivery rescheduled to the beginning of January.”

Mr Morris has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and said he was “aware of rumours” going around that vaccines had been diverted to the South and South East.

In his letter, the Labour MP added: “The region should not pay the price for the Government mistakes, by being placed last in the queue to receive any vaccine.”

GP Dr Neil O’Brien, accountable officer for the CCG, thanked the teams who have already vaccinated hundreds elderly patients.

He added: “We want to make the best possible use of the limited vaccine supplies we have and make sure that the entire region receives a share of the supplies we have.

"We also wanted to avoid the potential of having to vaccinate patients on Christmas Day when the uptake of the vaccine may not have been as high for understandable reasons.”

Dr O’Brien said all those who want a vaccine will get it, with those who had been due to get theirs next week to now be called to attend from the first week of January.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news, information and puzzles online.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu.