Covid: Please be patient, stick to the rules and we will get through this – Dr Patricia Moultrie

GPs will be taking part in the Covid vaccination programme but will not be able to personally give the shot to everyone (Picture: Michael Gillen)

It’s been exhausting for the general public and health and care workers alike.

But now we have a vaccine that has been approved, with more in the pipeline. This could allow us to return to more “normal” living within the next year. The first vaccine is being rolled out and the government suggests it could reach all who need it in a matter of months.

I know people have questions about GP involvement and I want to reassure you that GPs will stand ready to support their local health boards, which are leading the process, wherever they can, possibly by administering the vaccine to some of the most vulnerable in the population who cannot go to mass vaccination centres.

I want to explain to you why it’s not possible for everyone to be vaccinated at their GP surgery. This is a mass vaccination programme, which will cover a huge proportion of our population, to be rolled out rapidly and may need to be sustained for some time.

This is being done at a time when we need to maintain social distancing and that introduces additional restrictions. GPs are currently working hard to maintain patient services, and support community Covid pathways, and it is right that we support delivery of this important programme in ways that are most valuable to local systems. Local arrangements will differ and may vary by practice, as individual circumstances such as premises and staff shortages will have an impact and GPs will have to consider their patients’ needs.

So, GPs will be involved, but the level of support they can offer will be based on individual capacity and commitments balanced against what boards need and ask them to do. Of course, certain groups have been identified as both high risk for complications with Covid-19 and as ‘hard to reach’, such as the very elderly, and it may mean that GPs have a role with vaccination of these groups.

If you are not within the groups identified to be vaccinated by your GP, that should not cause concern – lessons have been learned from this year’s flu vaccination programme which will help mass clinics to run safely and efficiently. Look out for more information from your health boards which will explain how you will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The end of this distressing time is hopefully in sight. I ask that you all remain patient just a little longer and stick with the guidance to reduce transmission while the vaccine programme rolls out. Your health and care workers are here for you, working as hard as we can both behind the scenes and on the front line. With your support, we will get through this and be able to look to a return to a more normal life for us all very soon.

Dr Patricia Moultrie is deputy chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee and BMA’s Scottish Council

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