The Government are, typically, making some bold claims about the roll out of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines. The claim is that 15 million people will be vaccinated by mid February, 367 million doses of the various vaccines are on order, and more than 1,000 vaccination sites are up and running. If you accept that we can gain the sunny uplands of “herd immunity” by vaccinating two thirds of people it is claimed that we are well on the way. Let us all hope that is right. But if it is to happen then some things need to happen.
It has to be absolutely clear who is responsible for decision making. The government’s recent track record isn’t great. Their response to the pandemic has been marked by confused, illogical and fragmented decision making. It has also often not been clear where responsibility and authority lies. A continuation of this pattern of behaviour could seriously hamper the effectiveness of the roll out.
The problems with local delivery have to be dealt with if they are to quickly deliver the 50m doses that will be needed to move towards the initial goal of herd immunity. This will doubtless require input from GP surgeries, pharmacies, mobile vaccination sites and mass vaccination centres. It is to be hoped that the Government will begin to value local government’s experience and expertise, begin to see the benefit of working with local community groups and others. I do hope they will in future be less reliant on outsourcing to large contractors. The success of the vaccination program relies on locally developed solutions, one size very rarely fits all
The Public Health messaging around the vaccination program simply must be much clearer and more coherent. At times the Government’s messaging has been inconsistent and confusing, characterised by sudden and comprehensive changes. Public trust in the government’s messaging had already been seriously undermined when Dominic Cummings’ very public rule breach appeared to go unpunished. Almost inevitably there seems to be widespread cynicism and systematic programs of misinformation, in particular about the rapidity of production of the vaccines, how safe they actually are, and whether any possible side-effects patients have been thoroughly tested.
This is a pandemic that has, according to the WHO, been driven by inequalities. This could be a major obstacle, evidence suggests that people from seldom heard communities and groups (such as some Black and Minority Ethnic communities), are those that are most likely to be heavily affected by the virus. It would appear that they are also the most likely, for a variety of reasons, to be reluctant to get vaccinated.
If we are to get on top of this situation the role of local government (including Parish and Town Councils), voluntary groups, local charities, local community and faith leaders will be very important. These are people and organisations who are from their local communities, no-one knows better than them what is needed. Other drivers of the pandemic such as the density, occupation and quality of housing can also be heavily influenced by Local Government and Third Sector
It is important too that the Government think the implications of the vaccination program through to the end, and communicate them to local people. Think through issues such as the freedoms that people who have had the vaccination will be given, the freedoms they may feel they have “earned”. What restrictions will still apply to them? What about their friends and family visiting? Should they be required to “prove” they’ve had it?
The potential of the vaccine could be enormous, but it can only be optimised if the learning from the mistakes made in the past is taken fully on board. For the sake of us all I hope that happens.
Chris Bain 