EAST DERRY DUP MP Gregory Campbell has questioned the status of the North of Ireland’s Coronavirus vaccine rollout after the UK repeatedly smashed its record for daily vaccines administered last week.
While the UK as a whole managed a record 844,285 vaccine doses administered on Saturday, the North of Ireland recorded 6,423.
Mr Campbell said it was “difficult to understand why Northern Ireland completes not just yet another low daily number, but has the second consecutive week with low numbers”.
However, the Department of Health said vaccine supply levels have fluctuated and numbers were expected to increase in the coming days.
A total of 746,254 vaccinations have been administered in Northern Ireland to date, with 667,758 first doses and 78,496 second doses.
Across the UK 27,630,970 people have received a first dose of the vaccine, while 2,228,772 people are now fully vaccinated.
Mr Campbell urged the Department of Health to address concerns that whilst the other UK regions roll out rate of the Covid-19 vaccine is speeding up and growing, the North of Ireland’s appears to be slowing down.
“Northern Ireland started off being the United Kingdom region with the highest numbers but has now fallen back considerably,” the East Derry MP said.
“The Health Minister needs to spell out what the problem is, is it distribution or an internal problem within Northern Ireland?”
Mr Campbell has repeatedly raised concerns over the apparent slowing of the North of Ireland’s vaccination programme.
In response to Mr Campbell a Department of Health spokesperson said they had “always been clear that progress with the vaccination programme w,ill be dependent on availability of supplies”.
“As expected, supply levels have fluctuated over the course of the programme to date,” the spokesperson said.
“Supplies to GPs had been limited for a period up until last week, when a significant new consignment was received.
“This has now been delivered to GPs and will be reflected in the vaccine numbers in the coming days.
“We are very grateful to all those who are working very hard to deliver this unprecedented vaccination programme at pace.
“This has now been delivered to GPs and will be reflected in the vaccine numbers in the coming days and weeks.”
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