Thousands sign our petition calling for many more pharmacies to give Covid jab

The Melton Times and our sister JPI Media titles across the UK began campaigining on the issue this week under the slogan, ‘A Shot In The Arm’.

It has also been backed by Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and the pharmacists’ trade union, who agree that pharmacies have the experience, expertise and the trust of local communities to provide an accessible location for people to get the jab.

It was pleasing to see this week that the vaccine was starting to be given at some Boots and Superdrug pharmacies this week.

But we believe all independent pharmacies should also be utilised as soon as possible to help the government reach its target of vaccinating every particularly vulnerable person in the country by mid-February.

Among the comments from the thousands of people who have so far signed our online petition was one from Beverley Glover, who said: “Nearly everyone lives close to a pharmacy. They are more regularly used than hospitals or other medical centres, including GP surgeries.

“It makes sense to use these facilities when they are already being used to dispense flu vaccines, prescriptions, over-the-counter medication and they even house methadone clinics in some cases.”

Lesley Fuller commented: “I am 79 years old and feel they are not moving fast enough to get the shots done.”

And Isabella Smart, who also signed the petition, questioned why, if it’s possible to get a flu jab in ‘your local Asda’ that coronavirus vaccines shouldn’t be available in a similar capacity.

“We are encouraged to seek advice about ailments from a pharmacist before making an appointment with a GP, to lighten their load,” she said.

“Throughout this pandemic we’ve been told more than once that ‘we’re in this together’, so let’s live up to that and do what’s needed to get us back to being together”.

Andrew Morgan commented that having the jabs at independent pharmacies would help the government ‘achieve their targets much quicker and less lives would be lost’.

The PDA, the trade union exclusively for pharmacists in the UK, posted a supportive Tweet to the Melton Times, stating: “Patients have migrated from other parts of the NHS to community pharmacies throughout the pandemic and our members are incredibly busy, but with a large locum workforce available, the sector can still do more and help significantly with vaccinations. Government can support that.”

Approaching three million people have already been given the vaccine in the UK, which includes more than a third of those aged over 80, and this is an impressive start to the roll-out.

As more supplies of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine are becoming available to supplement the Pfizer version, Prime Minister Boris expects vaccination rates to accelerate over the coming weeks.

If more community pharmacies are involved it will surely aid this initiative.

The NHS said six pharmacies began delivering the coronavirus vaccine this week, with appointments available at a total of 70 from next week, and 200 by the end of the month.

But the Melton Times and its sister titles have called for all of the country’s 11,500 chemists to quickly be given the chance to administer the jab.

The NHS say only stores capable of delivering large volumes while allowing for social distancing are initially being selected to give the best geographical spread.

And ministers have insisted that smaller sites will be utilised better in the second phase of the drive, when the majority of vulnerable people have been reached.

Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, commented this week: “The whole country wants this roll-out to succeed.

“We were the first to get the vaccine and if we get this right and pull together, I know we can be the first country to roll it out successfully.

“To do that, the Government needs to match the nation’s ambition with a 24/7 roll-out which harnesses all the expertise and dedication our country has to offer.

“Every high street has a pharmacy and I want to see every possible pharmacy deployed to help.”

A spokesperson for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Groups said: “As the vaccine supply increases, we are looking at additional venues and the flexibility of the Oxford AstraZenica vaccine means we can offer vaccinations in more local venues, including pharmacies.

“This will make it easier for people to get a vaccination.”

We are hoping to 10,000 signatures on our petition and we are nearly halfway to our target after just a few days.

Go online at www.change.org/p/uk-government-all-pharmacies-should-to-be-able-to-play-a-part-in-the-uk-s-covid-19-vaccine-programme to sign the petition.