Vaccine can now be transported to outer isles
THE COVID vaccination programme will now include staff and residents from all of Shetland’s care homes following confirmation last night (Tuesday) that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can be transported by inter-island ferries.
Earlier on Tuesday, NHS chief executive Michael Dickson said the health board was not able to take the vaccine to the outer isles because it was not licensed to be transported by ferry or aircraft once defrosted.
That position changed late yesterday. Overnight Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency changed its position on this advice and confirmed that the vaccine will be stable enough to be transported by air and sea after it has been taken out of the freezer, in which it is required to be stored at -75 degrees Celsius.
The health chief said: “I can confirm that we will be able to transport the vaccine to the outer islands, so we can vaccinate at care homes on these islands.”
Covid vaccination in Shetland got underway on Friday when the first person on the islands got her first jab.
The programme of vaccinating NHS frontline staff, care home staff and residents will take some time. The health board estimates that by the end of this week a total of 74 people will have received the first of two doses.
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