The most important lesson from the 'extraordinary' Covid vaccination programme
‘Anti-vaxxer’ conspiracy theorists should be ashamed of themselves
The Scottish and UK governments have faced strong criticism over their handling of the Covid pandemic. However, in the latest UK Covid-19 Inquiry report, its chair Heather Hallett stated simply: “The vaccination programme was an extraordinary feat.”
“Effective vaccines were developed, produced and delivered to the majority of the population in record time,” she added. “Each of the four nations ran its own programme for the delivery of vaccines but all four worked to a very similar timetable – giving vaccines to the most vulnerable first... The system of prioritisation generally worked well...”
Hallett acknowledged any vaccine comes with a risk for “a small minority” but concluded the risks of the Covid ones were “carefully managed and... far outweighed by the benefits”. She also warned that “a lack of trust and confidence in governments and health systems” had helped make people susceptible to “false information”.
Quite simply, while the vaccines saved lives, misinformation killed people. ‘Anti-vaxxer’ conspiracy theorists, encouraged by some reckless and foolish politicians, should be ashamed of themselves. All those involved in the Herculean effort to vaccinate the nation can be proud until their dying day.
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