Vaccine questions that our readers want the government to answer

The News is campaigning for every pharmacy to be used as a Covid-19 vaccine centre so that no-one should have more than a 10-minute journey to get a jab.
By Tom Morton
Published 13th Jan 2021, 14:12 BST
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But we are also seeking answers to our readers' most pressing questions.

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Pompey Pensioners' chair backs campaign calling on government to use pharmacies ...

Thousands of readers sent us their key concerns and the top 10 have been sent to the government for a response.

A dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is administered Picture: Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesA dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is administered Picture: Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty Images
A dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is administered Picture: Andy Buchanan - WPA Pool/Getty Images

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN: Sign our petition to see community pharmacies included in the Covid-19 vaccination programme

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What is increasingly clear is that there are too many unanswered questions about how the roll-out will take place.

We are reiterating our plea for clarity and timely information on the vaccine programme – and timetable – to provide families, particularly the elderly and clinically vulnerable, with the reassurance that they’ve not been forgotten.

People want to know what to do next and when they should do it.

A shot in the armA shot in the arm
A shot in the arm

Put simply they want answers and they want them quickly - and we have given the government until the end of Thursday to respond.

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I am disabled/housebound. Will my GP surgery or local chemist be able to get the vaccine to me at home? I am shielding. Do I need to continue to shield after I have had my first dose of the vaccine? Given the concern about the spread of the virus in supermarkets, will the government prioritise the vaccination of shop workers? They cannot choose to work from home and are exposed to many different people each day. My partner is shielding and is due to get the vaccine - can I get it earlier to keep them safe? Will pharmacists be able to help with the wait time for a second dose? What is the detailed selection criteria within the over-80s group. My mum, 93, is still waiting to hear. I have had one jab but the second is now delayed. How safe am I to go to the supermarket as I have been unable to get a delivery slot from three supermarkets? How long does the vaccine last? Can they visit workplaces and administer it there? I'm classed as extremely vulnerable and I'm a teacher. My sister is a social worker, able to do the vast majority of her work from home, and is not vulnerable. So why is it she will probably get the vaccine before me?

Related topics:PeopleCovid-19