Put pharmacies in the front line against the virus

 The English NHS is mismanaging the roll-out of the two vaccines available to combat SARS/CoV2. It is not listening to the GP practices which are able to inoculate their patients expeditiously while targeting for delivery vaccination hubs and even some large clinics which are not as ready. However, the Westminster government is dipping its toe in the water of distribution by high street pharmacy. So far, only six large pharmacies are involved.

Unless there is some clause in the devolution settlement which prevents such an initiative, I believe the Welsh government should go further. They should heed the pleas of the Natonal Pharmacy Association:

At present, pharmacies have to be able to deliver 1,000 vaccines a week, have enough fridge space to store all the doses, and be able to open seven days a week.

Andrew Lane, of the National Pharmacy Association, said now that the Oxford vaccine had been approved, community pharmacies could store and administer it in the same way as they deliver the flu jab.

The Oxford vaccine only needs to be stored at fridge temperature, as opposed to the freezer temperatures of -70C required by Pfizer.

"We're here, we're trained, we will deliver," said Mr Lane

Pharmacies are probably as in touch with local communities as GPs. They are more likely to be within walking distance for people in Wales, thus reducing the dependence on public transport. Permitting all those pharmacies which already administer the 'flu jab to vaccinate against the new virus will take pressure off GPs who were already stretched even before the pandemic.

They do not make any profit from work they do for the NHS, so in some cases the Welsh government may have to extend the support it already gives to small businesses, but surely that is a small price to pay for a more effective vaccination programme.