ADMINISTERING Covid vaccines to the oldest in our population first has given risen to some controversy. Though the country remains in lockdown and schools are closed, many of those of working age, including teachers, will not reach the top of the vaccine queue before autumn.
Several ‘older’ people have told TCW they would be happy to forgo their shot to clear the way to get people back to work.
The argument for giving the vaccine to older people first is that it will save more lives, and that vaccinating essential workers before older adults would lead to more deaths. However some countries (Austria, Czechia, Croatia, France, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia) have decided to adapt the prioritised groups to include health and education workers.
In the meantime doubt has been cast on the appropriateness of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for the elderly. The UK insists that it is effective for over-65s but other countries believe there is not yet enough data for the age group.
One registered care worker told TCW that his elderly father was being harassed by the immunisation service to have his jab though he did not want it.
Given that it is a matter of public record that that older individuals have not been included in Covid-19 vaccine trials to the same extent as younger people, is it right that the elderly should be pressured by the NHS to comply?
Feel free to discuss this or anything else on your mind.
