Police 'feel stabbed in the back' by Covid vaccine decision

Experts advising the UK government say vaccinating people in order of age is the fastest way to cut Covid-19 deaths.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which has looked at evidence on best how to reduce serious illness and death from Covid-19 in phase two of the UK's vaccination programme, says prioritising certain jobs could leave some vulnerable people waiting longer for a first dose.

The JCVI says the following groups should be prioritised, once all at-risk groups in phase one have been offered at least one dose of the vaccine (by mid-April): All those aged 40-49 years; all those aged 30-39 years and all those aged 18-29 years.

All four nations of the UK will follow the committee's advice with a target of vaccinating all adults by end of July.

The JCVI say priority based on jobs would be "more complex" and could slow down the programme.

Teachers and police officers are among those who have campaigned to be prioritised in the next phase - but they will now be vaccinated in line with their age group.

Craig Grandison, Vice Chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “When I heard the announcement, I was truly lost for words, this is the police being stabbed in the back by their own Government.

“Since the pandemic began we have been patted on the back and told we are doing a good job keeping the public safe, dealing with illegal gatherings and a raft of new legislation.

“However the Government are doing nothing to keep my colleagues safe and are hiding behind the JVCI and refusing to stand up for policing.

“I’m not sure the JVCI understand our role, I’m not sure they know how many members of the public we come into contact with. I don’t think that they realise that we regularly have to enter hospitals and assist the ambulance service, who’s staff have been vaccinated.

“To say that it is too difficult to prioritise occupations is just ridiculous.

“The Government could give policing 130,000 doses and we the police would deal with the logistics and ensure that all officers were vaccinated in quick time.

“But no it’s easier to claim it’s too difficult and leave officers at risk and contracting and transmitting this deadly virus.

"The Government need to stand up and deal with the issue. Policing will not forget this!”

National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, John Apter, said: “This announcement shows a complete lack of understanding about policing this pandemic and is an utter betrayal of police officers. My colleagues have been on the frontline since the first national lockdown last March, risking infection and even death to keep the public safe.

“Together with others across policing, we have never said police officers should jump the queue but should be prioritised. It’s right that the most vulnerable and health and care workers were vaccinated; but what about police officers who cannot mitigate against the risks of contracting and spreading this deadly virus? Yet the calls to prioritise policing have been ignored.

“The very nature of policing is unpredictable and means my colleagues often cannot socially distance. They are going into people’s homes, going into hospitals, and having to get up close and personal when helping people or making an arrest.

“Many officers are reporting sick or self-isolating and our numbers are falling, sometimes dangerously low. We have also lost a number of colleagues to this virus too. Yet the Government continue to hide behind the science of the JCVI. What about a moral duty to my colleagues and their families?

“Giving police officers the vaccine would not only protect them and their families but also help prevent the spread of this virus.

“We are sick of warm words and no action by our political leaders who have demanded so much from policing during this pandemic. We will now explore every possible avenue open to us to protect our members from this deadly virus and this complacent government.”