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Doctors told to bin leftover vaccines instead of administering second doses.

(122 Posts)
GagaJo Sat 16-Jan-21 18:36:04

The revelation comes as hospitals become increasingly overwhelmed by the surge of COVID patients as the virus continues to spread across the UK.

GPs setting up vaccine clinics at short notice who find they have several injection doses left have reportedly been warned by local authorities that they cannot use them on staff or any patients who have already received their first jab.

Medics claim the policy, which has been described as “bordering on criminal”, is hampering the effort to vaccinate over-80s, along with frontline health and care workers.

The instructions are being reported across the country, according to The Telegraph.

Dr Robert Morely, director of professional support at the Birmingham Local Medical Committee, told the publication that the orders are "extremely counterproductive, nonsensical and ludicrous".

He said: “This is ridiculous, bordering on the criminal, to actually be wasting vaccines when you have the worst global healthcare crisis for a century."

uk.yahoo.com/news/doctos-throw-out-leftover-vaccines-second-doses-nhs-england-154924350.html

Urmstongran Sat 16-Jan-21 19:33:41

That’s just shocking GagaJo.

EllanVannin Sat 16-Jan-21 19:52:18

It certainly is criminal.

Peasblossom Sat 16-Jan-21 20:03:36

Well this is an interesting one isn’t it. At today’s briefing Chris Whitby said it was absolutely up to doctors to decide where spare vaccines should go. And NHS England have categorically denied that any such order was issued and have said spare vaccine should be used and that any waste borders on the criminal.

I note the newspaper articles use that handy phrase “it has been reported”.

Hopefully Chris Whitty’s very public televised statement will have stopped any doubt about what to do in its tracks.

Smileless2012 Sat 16-Jan-21 20:06:31

If it's true which I doubt, then the article should substantiate this with evidence. "it has been reported"; who by?

M0nica Sat 16-Jan-21 20:23:26

Some times the best way to reveal something, when full information is not available is to use a phrase like 'it has been reported - and then see if any more substantial evidence comes up.

Sometimes that phrase hides a genuine whistle blower, who needs protection.

It is up to all of us, to read these things carefully and evaluate them.

The OP very carefully states have reportedly been warned by local authorities that they cannot use them on staff or any patients who have already received their first jab..

The first two responders seem to react as if this was definite fact. It is the third poster, who sees the way this possibility, is just a possibility, which is later refuted by a senior government official.

Mollygo Sat 16-Jan-21 20:26:27

Wow! - “it has been reported” by someone unspecified. Probably someone who knows someone/lives next door to someone/, whose best friend/sister/brother/, who is a nurse/doctor/surgery receptionist who has actually seen this happen.
They may have been told not to use left over vaccine as second doses if the specified length of time hasn’t passed or if it’s a different vaccine.
That’s different, but then not everyone is happy if leftover vaccine is used on anyone who can get to the surgery in time to use it, if those on the list can’t make it.
If it is true, let the writer identify themselves and their source ie the circumstances where and when they discovered this.

vampirequeen Sat 16-Jan-21 20:35:24

People are named in the report. Why should these doctors lie?

Callistemon Sat 16-Jan-21 20:39:38

have reportedly been warned by local authorities

As Local Authorities are not in charge of GPs, only of the premises where the vaccinations are taking place, how can they have any jurisdiction over the administration of vaccines?

Callistemon Sat 16-Jan-21 20:44:08

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/immunology-and-vaccines/gps-told-they-can-give-unused-covid-vaccines-to-next-cohorts/
Pulse
15 January 2021

The instructions are being reported across the country, according to The Telegraph.

Media speculation presented as fact again?

Chewbacca Sat 16-Jan-21 20:48:43

Is this another knee jerk, not properly researched, everybody be outraged, non story? Again? hmm

Callistemon Sat 16-Jan-21 20:53:06

Chewbacca

Is this another knee jerk, not properly researched, everybody be outraged, non story? Again? hmm

Apparently.

As if we haven't got enough excitement in our lives at the moment.

Callistemon Sat 16-Jan-21 20:54:06

It wasn't the Daily Mail this time, though.

Peasblossom Sat 16-Jan-21 21:01:24

But it’s good that it was firmly and public ally knocked on the head today, isn’t it?

MawBe Sat 16-Jan-21 21:02:50

But this simply isn’t true.

Chewbacca Sat 16-Jan-21 21:04:46

If this turns out to be true, I'll be as outraged and disgusted as anyone else at the wanton waste of precious vaccine, but we've had a surfeit of these alarmist stories recently that, on further investigation, have proven to be half cocked at best and untrue at worst. I'll wait to see if OP's claims are corroborated by a dependable source before throwing my arms in the air in shock horror.

Alegrias1 Sat 16-Jan-21 21:09:07

Next time I'm ranting on about scaremongering and the press manipulating the people, will you all remember this thread please? wink

MawBe Sat 16-Jan-21 21:11:44

15 January 2021

Exclusive GPs have been told they can now invite patients from priority cohort three – those over 75 – to receive unused Covid vaccines.
And the chief medical officer has backed ‘perfectly sensible’ GP efforts to ‘eke out’ every vaccine dose they can
It comes as Pulse has learned that some unused vials of Covid vaccine are being wasted rather than given as second doses amid current NHS England guidance.
The JCVI has set out four priority groups for vaccination, with most sites still working on completing the first two groups – including giving first doses to care home residents, NHS and social care staff and over-80s.
But an NHS England spokesperson told Pulse that if no over 80s or health and social care workers are ‘left’ to receive their first dose of the vaccine, practices should start vaccinating patients over 75

This the day before this thread was started.

Chewbacca Sat 16-Jan-21 21:27:35

Alegrias1

Next time I'm ranting on about scaremongering and the press manipulating the people, will you all remember this thread please? wink

Yes we will Alegrias. wink

4xGranny Sat 16-Jan-21 22:25:13

I know of two doctors receptionists who were vaccinated at the end of the day with left over vaccine.
My husband aged 75 has been invited for his since the surgery have finished all the over 80s who wanted it.

M0nica Sat 16-Jan-21 22:33:52

My neighbour, whose sister is a hospital doctor, told me several weeks ago that in her hospital, if at the end of the day all those coming to the clinic have receivedall the vaccine and doses are left, they are given to anyone available who hasn't had it, no questions asked, rather than waste any vaccine.

vegansrock Sun 17-Jan-21 05:01:08

I’m 71 and had my shot at a local hospital hub where they found some over 80s weren’t turning up for their appointments, so they did a social media shout out. Staff were also getting any “leftovers”.

vampirequeen Sun 17-Jan-21 06:31:40

Dr Robert Morely, director of professional support at the Birmingham Local Medical Committee, told the publication that the orders are "extremely counterproductive, nonsensical and ludicrous"

Why would someone like Dr Robert Morely lie?

Dr Brian McGregor, a GP who chairs the BMA's Yorkshire regional committee, told the Telegraph that NHS England ordered his local clinical commissioning group to throw away any unused doses.

McGregor claimed they had been warned they would be "performance managed" on the issue.

Why would someone like Dr Brian McGregor lie?

Lucca Sun 17-Jan-21 07:21:43

Well if it were true let’s hope they ignore the directive as well as the Performance management clipboarders.

(Footnote . Predictive text for performance ....Persian empire?!)

vegansrock Sun 17-Jan-21 08:01:45

If there were such an order it seems some providers are ignoring it thankfully.