Covid vaccine 'not the messiah' - emergency crews working hard to fight coronavirus in Hartlepool

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The coronavirus vaccine is ‘not the messiah’ and emergency teams are still fighting hard against Covid-19, a meeting has heard.

Cleveland Fire Brigade staff have been praised for their continued community work during the pandemic, with plans in place to add to this by supporting mass testing and vaccination programmes.

Fire brigade bosses stressed the discussed vaccines are not a ‘silver bullet’ for Covid-19, and they will be continuing with their hard work to help support the pandemic response.

Ian Hayton, chief fire officer, speaking to the Cleveland Fire Authority Executive Committee, provided an update on support being carried out in communities during the pandemic.

Illustration showing a syringe and a bottle reading "Covid-19 Vaccine" next to AstraZeneca company and University of Oxford logos. (Photo by JOEL SAGET / AFP) (Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)

This includes officers being seconded to local authorities to help with planning processes, staff being sent to support mobile testing units, and undertaking temperature testing.

Mr Hayton added staff will also be helping to carry out the mass testing programme, which will be rolled out across the Tees Valley after being trialled in Liverpool, along with supporting the regional NHS with Covid-19 vaccination plans.

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He said: “We are certainly ready, willing and able to undertake a whole host of tasks should we be asked to, and clearly we will continue to do that through this pandemic and maybe beyond.”

However he warned the vaccine is not a ‘messiah coming over the hill’ and numerous steps need to be taken to manage the pandemic response.

Mr Hayton said: “To try and deal with this pandemic there is no one element. For instance the vaccine that has been discussed recently, it’s not a silver bullet, it’s not the messiah coming over the hill, it’s still a combination.

“The combination is the vaccine, the biological approach to that; the social one, which is the hands, face, space, the social distancing measures.

“There is the environmental [approach], ensuring that we all have Covid secure work places.

“And then there is the legislative, the enforcement actions by either local authorities or by the police in relation to those who transgress the law in relation to the Covid pandemic.”

It was also noted how the increase in Covid-19 cases, as has been seen recently, puts further strain on primary care trusts and hospitals in the region.

Cllr Teresa Higgins, Middlesbrough Council representative on the committee, praised the continued efforts of the fire service throughout the pandemic, adding they have been a ‘godsend’ to communities.

She said: “I wanted to say particularly a big thank you to the service for all they’ve done for the communities.

“Helping them with food parcels and different things, it’s been an absolute godsend to some people, it’s been a great help to the communities.”

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