Some of those most at risk are still not on the Covid vaccine priority list | Frances Ryan
The government’s self-congratulatory tone belies the fact that it is letting vulnerable groups fall through cracks in the system
With the first phase of the UK’s vaccination programme now fully under way, the government’s self-congratulatory tone suggests all clinically vulnerable groups are soon in line for protection. There’s certainly reason to be positive: millions of people are on their way to safety. But look a little closer and many high-risk people are struggling to access the vaccine.
When the vaccine was first introduced last year, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) put shielders – or the “clinically extremely vulnerable” (CEV) – as low as sixth on the priority list, behind older people with no underlying health conditions. It resulted in the baffling situation where a marathon-running 65-year-old was given priority for the vaccine over a 20-year-old with lung disease who needs oxygen support. The government U-turned after pressure, moving CEV people up to fourth spot behind healthy over-75s. These are complex calculations, but there are still fears some will miss out. I’ve heard from young disabled people who don’t meet the government’s narrow criteria of CEV and are worried they won’t be prioritised at all.
Read the original article at The Guardian