Levi explains that the vaccine is a bit complicated to handle, “because it is stored under very low temperatures”. That is why the vaccine only goes to hospitals at first. He expects the first delivery early next week. ‘First we are going to vaccinate the healthcare staff and we are ready for that.
The priority for healthcare personnel is partly for practical reasons, because vaccinations are initially only carried out from hospitals. The elderly and the vulnerable are next in line, “but that takes more steps,” according to Levi. It is less easy for those target groups to come to a hospital.
The pediatric ENT specialist Anne Schilder, affiliated with University College in London, sees that a lot has already been prepared for logistics. Hospitals have been very involved in vaccination studies. As a result, there is already an infrastructure. ‘ Vaccination centers have also been set up in recent months.
Although hospitals receive the vaccine first, Marieke van Bussel, general practitioner in northern Cumbria, already received information this morning. ‘As GPs, we are ready to further roll out the program when it becomes available.’ Van Bussel thinks it is good that healthcare workers are given priority, “because if they are vaccinated, they can provide safe care”.
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