Portsmouth pensioners' group welcomes Keir Starmer's backing of city's vaccine campaign

Sir Keir joined The Shot in the Arm campaign today, which is being spearheaded by The News and its sister titles.

Launched earlier this week, the drive is appealing for the government to use the nation’s network of 11,500 community pharmacies to speed up the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine programme.

The backing of the high-profile politician has delighted Steve Bonner, the chairman of the Pompey Pensioners group.

‘I welcome Sir Keir’s support which I think this will certainly put pressure on the government,’ said Mr Bonner.

‘Doctor’s surgeries and pharmacies are probably a little more comforting to go to rather than huge vaccination centres.

‘So I think anyone in the public eye putting themselves forward, like Sir Keir has, will be helpful.’

The NHS said only stores capable of delivering large volumes while allowing for social distancing are initially being selected to give the best geographical spread.

And ministers have insisted that smaller sites will be utilised better in the second phase of the drive, when the majority of vulnerable people

have been reached.

But Sir Keir, who has visited Portsmouth numerous occasions while campaigning, said: ‘The whole country wants this rollout to succeed.

‘We were the first to get the vaccine and if we get this right and pull together, I know we can be the first country to roll it out successfully.

‘To do that, the government needs to match the nation’s ambition with a 24/7 rollout which harnesses all the expertise and dedication our country has to offer.

‘Every high street has a pharmacy.

‘I want to see every possible pharmacy deployed to help.

‘Labour will play our part.’

SEE ALSO: Biggest Covid hotspots in Portsmouth and Hampshire

The news comes as health chiefs continue to ramp up their work to prepare Portsmouth’s own mass vaccination centre.

The site will be based at St James’ Hospital, in Milton, and will be capable of vaccinating thousands of people from across the city.

Those behind the new facility said it could begin operating as early as next week – as long as vaccines and kit to dish them out, are supplied by the government in time.

On Tuesday, health secretary Matt Hancock insisted Portsmouth’s site – along with all other mass testing hubs – would receive is supply of jabs ‘in time’,

His comments in parliament followed a question from Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan.

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