The decision to delay follow-up dose of Pfizer vaccine is grossly unfair to thousands of at-risk patients in England, as appointments are rescheduled. It will have a terrible emotional impact on many patients.
Our chair @rvautrey has issued a response (THREAD) 1/7
Our chair @rvautrey has issued a response (THREAD) 1/7
“This group of very elderly patients are at the highest risk of death if they contract Covid-19 which is why GPs are so concerned for them. It is grossly and patently unfair to tens of thousands of our most at risk patients to now try to reschedule their appointments." 2/7
"Local leaders are telling us that is unprofessional and impractical to amend the appointments for thousands of frail elderly patients, particularly those booked and who have already made arrangements to have their second vaccination in the next two weeks.” 3/7
“The decision to ask GPs, at short notice, to rebook patients for 3 months hence will cause huge logistical problems for almost all vaccination sites and Practices. Eg to contact just 2,000 patients will take a team of 5 practice staff about a week & that’s simply untenable” 4/7
“The BMA believes the existing commitment made to these patients by the NHS and local clinicians should be respected and if GPs decide to honour these booked appointments in January the BMA will support them.” 5/7
"The Government must see it’s only right that existing bookings for the oldest and most vulnerable members of our society are honoured, and must also as soon as possible publish a scientifically validated justification for its’ new approach." 6/7
"We believe this can and should be done even as Practices and the wider NHS step up the vaccination programme to deliver initial doses to other vulnerable people, including frontline healthcare professionals – many of which still haven't even received their first vaccination” 7/7
Our full press statement is now online here: bma.org.uk/bma-media-cent…
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