''Deeply disturbing' - West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper hits out at Government plans to cut North West vaccines

Rosie Cooper, the MP for West Lancashire, has hit out at the Government’s plans to cut the flow of vaccines to the North West.
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It comes just days after a Lancashire health chief confirmed that the North West's Covid-19 vaccine supply is set to be reduced following a report by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) on Tuesday (January 26) that "the supply of Covid vaccines to the North West region is set to be cut by around a third in February, seemingly due to national shortages and the need for other regions to catch up with vaccinating their priority groups."

Rosie Cooper MP said: "I find this suggestion to be deeply disturbing. It is unacceptable that my constituents’ vaccine protection could be delayed due to the poor planning of the vaccine roll out in other areas of the country.

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"Having already committed to giving each area their fair and proportional share of the available vaccines, why has the Government now gone against this simply to bring the North West vaccination numbers down to the level of less successful areas?

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper (Picture: PA)West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper (Picture: PA)
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper (Picture: PA)

"I cannot accept my constituents’ health being put at risk, and I have written to the Health Secretary to urge him to reverse this decision.”

Jane Scattergood, Covid-19 vaccination director for NHS Lancashire, confirmed on Wednesday (January 27) that the HSJ report was correct.

She assured the public everyone in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's top four priority categories would still receive their first vaccine, despite reduced numbers.

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Ms Scattergood said: "We will complete the top four JCVI priorities by mid-February, even on the reduced vaccine supply.

"We're looking to national NHS leaders and central Government to continue to work hard to increase the supply."