MPs call for debate in parliament over bid to recruit pharmacies in Covid vaccine roll-out

The Labour MP for Leeds Central and fellow MPs for Leeds and West Yorkshire have spoken out in response to our Shot in the Arm campaign, which calls for local pharmacies to play a major role in the delivery of the vaccine.

The Yorkshire Evening Post and its sister titles across JPI Media, including The Yorkshire Post, The Star and the Sunderland Echo, are collectively urging the Government to ensure everyone has the ability to get a jab within ten minutes of their home by using the nation’s 11,000-strong pharmacy network.

A petition launched as part of the campaign has so far attracted over 123,000 signatures.

Hilary Benn MP said it was vital that the vaccine roll-out is able to reach people as fast as possible.

He said: “Given the huge task we have got to vaccinate the nine priority groups, we should be using all of the resources we have at our disposal to make sure that we get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.

“I would certainly welcome a debate in Parliament on the contribution community pharmacies can give to getting everyone who needs to be vaccinated, vaccinated.”

His views were echoed by MP Richard Burgon, (Labour, Leeds East) who urged the Government to “take note” of our campaign and the level of public support it had attracted so far.

He said: “I fully support this excellent campaign. As part of rolling out the vaccine, local knowledge is incredibly important and local health teams and local pharmacies have greater local knowledge than anyone else.

“The Government should take note of this campaign and take note of the public support and of course they should grant a debate on Government time on this important issue.”

He added: “Our pharmacies do a fantastic job outside the crisis so within this unprecedented public health crisis, it makes complete sense that they should be fully empowered to play a key role in helping our communities get vaccinated.”

Batley and Spen Labour MP Tracy Brabin also spoke out in support of our Shot in the Arm campaign, saying she backs the bid to involve community pharmacies “100 per cent”.

“I think the Government should absolutely, when rolling out the vaccine - and we know hundreds and thousands have already had it - be very aware that community pharmacies are part of the solution as well.

“Anything that puts community pharmacies on the agenda, I’m right behind,” she said.

Having visited the vaccination hub at the Al Hikmah Centre in Batley, Ms Brabin said what struck her was the trust people had in that venue.

“What I saw that was really vital was the fact that people trusted the centre - because they had potentially visited there themselves, or their families had or they had been to a wedding there.

“I think that’s the key with community pharmacies - the trust but also the location.

“It sits on your high street and is someone you know or have known for many years,” she said.

Around 200 pharmacy sites in England, including branches of high street chain Boots, have been lined up to deliver vaccines to priority patients over the coming week.s

But industry bodies have called on the Government to widen the pool to thousands more community pharmacies who are ready and willing to play their part in vaccinating the nation.

Office for National statistics figures show there are around 160 pharmacies in Leeds yet only four community pharmacies in West Yorkshire alone are currently being used as vaccination sites.

These include two in Leeds, Superdrug at the Merrion Centre and online pharmacy service Pharmacy2U at the Village Hotel in south Leeds, as well as Boots in Halifax town centre and Pharmacy2U’s site at Morrisons on Dewsbury road in Wakefield.

Health chiefs have confirmed to the Yorkshire Evening post that three more pharmacy sites are opening in West Yorkshire this week - at Knights Oakwood Pharmacy in Birstall, Boots in Huddersfield and Honley Community Centre in Holmfirth.

To sign the Shot in the Arm petition, click here.

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