MP raises concerns over initial problems with the vaccine rollout in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth

Concerns have been raised over initial problems with the vaccine rollout in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth.

And Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western says he will make sure the necessary questions are raised.

The vaccine rollout is the largest vaccination in the NHS's history and therefore teething problems were expected.

But many elderly residents have raised worries after their initial vaccination was cancelled due to a lack of delivery, many others have been given appointments in Birmingham.

Mr Western has called for regional authorities to focus on involving willing health professionals in the roll out and opening easily accessible local sites.

And he said that, in his words, 'forcing people to travel to Birmingham risks their safety and will prevent many receiving the potentially life-saving vaccine'.

Some people have had their appointments cancelled after

Many residents aged over 80 received a text message inviting them to book an appointment at a Leamington vaccination centre.

But many were then told there were no appointments, and in some cases, they attended only to be told no vaccines were available.

In Kenilworth, some appointments were cancelled due to a lack of vaccines being delivered - much the frustration of the local health centres.

Mr Western said: “I’m concerned the government is chasing headlines again and appears to have failed to learn the lessons from the first nine months of this crisis.

“I hope the government won’t be blaming residents or GPs if it does not meet its target.

"GPs and pharmacies want to deliver the vaccines locally and it is understandable elderly residents do not want to risk their health to access vaccination sites 25 miles away.

“I want the government to succeed with the programme. I’ll be working with the local council and public health officials to drive volunteer recruitment as well as help find sites.

“We also need NHS staff to receive vaccines immediately, followed by schools and nursery staff.

“I asked local officials to publish a local breakdown of vaccine data on a weekly basis so that MPs are able to hold the government to account effectively. We are still waiting on these.”

The news comes as the government opens seven mass inoculation centres across the UK, including one in Birmingham.

In a call with the South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group last Friday (January 8), Mr Western also urged local testing sites to be made available as soon as possible in addition to GPs surgeries and hospitals.

He suggested town halls and large empty shop premises as potential locations.

Along with new local sites, he says pharmacists, vets and beauticians should be considered to help with the roll out.

Joining Labour leader Keir Starmer, he called for vaccine centres to be open 24/7 to ensure the government’s targets are met.

He also called on local volunteers to increase the pace of vaccinations – putting himself forward to help.

The target for Coventry and Warwickshire by the end of March is 420,000 people aged over 50.

But as of last Friday, 24,000 vaccines had been administered in the region since the beginning of last month.

Mr Western is urging residents not to call their GPs or other healthcare providers. They will be contacted when a vaccine is available.

He added: "If any residents over the age of 80 haven’t had a vaccine by Monday, please contact me at [email protected] or call my office on 01926 882006."