Good morning. Priti Patel, the house secretary, has been doing the morning interview spherical on behalf of No 10 (which can be additional proof that my colleague Peter Walker’s article final month struck a nerve), and she or he has confirmed that she desires to make sure that law enforcement officials get precedence for the vaccine.
On the Immediately programme she was requested if there was an opportunity, supplied the consultants agreed, that the police could possibly be “bumped up this queue” for the vaccine. She replied:
It’s these police, fireplace and different frontline staff. The well being secretary [Matt Hancock] and I are working to completely make that occur. I will likely be very clear about that. That isn’t simply one thing we’re eager about. There may be a variety of working happening in authorities proper now. If the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation [JCVI] says that could be a chance, we are able to make it occur. We now have the logistical plans in place. We’ll completely work to make that occur.
The present plan is to vaccinate the 9 precedence teams recognized by the JCVI. There are 15 million individuals within the UK within the first 4 classes (care residence residents, well being and social care staff, and the over 70s), and they’re meant to get their first dose by the center of February. There are one other 17 million individuals within the subsequent 5 classes (the over-50s, and different adults with severe underlying well being situations), and they’re meant to get their first dose by early spring.
The JCVI has not but determined in what order it’s going to vaccinate the remainder of the inhabitants (adults beneath 50), however ministers have hinted strongly that the police, academics and store staff ought to get precedence.
On the Immediately programme it was not totally clear whether or not Patel was simply saying she was pushing for the police to get precedence in section two (when the under-50s get vaccinated), or whether or not she desires the JCVI to vary the nine-cohort precedence record it has already drawn up. However after I requested an aide for clarification, I used to be advised to learn the transcript of her interview on LBC, the place Patel was a lot clearer about wanting the precedence record to be revised.
When Nick Ferrari, the presenter, requested if Patel needed the police to be “moved up the ranks” for vaccinations, she stated a variety of work was happening on that difficulty. When Ferrari requested why that was not occurring, if ministers had been in favour, and why the police weren’t being handled just like the over-75s, she stated a vaccine supply plan was in place. Ferrari then requested if that meant the police could be “promoted up”. Patel replied:
We’re working to attain that … I’ve been saying to policing companions particularly, prepare.
Ferrari then requested what once more what was stopping Patel if that is what she needed. She replied:
We’re working with the JCVI which is the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisations. They’re those which might be figuring out this, it’s not for politicians.
So, Patel desires to over-ride the present precedence choices taken by the JCVI – however has not but bought settlement for this in authorities. What we don’t know but is how a lot help she has for this from ministerial colleagues. Little doubt we’ll discover out extra because the day goes on.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
12pm: Boris Johnson faces Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs.
12.15pm: Vaughan Gething, the Welsh well being minister, holds a coronavirus briefing in Cardiff.
12.30pm: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, takes questions within the Scottish parliament.
12.30pm: Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, responds to an pressing query within the Commons about backlogs within the prison justice system.
1.30pm: Downing Road is predicted to carry its day by day foyer briefing.
2.30pm: Brandon Lewis, the Northern Eire secretary, provides proof to the Commons Northern Eire affairs committee.
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