Academy of Medical Royal Colleges supports prioritisation of first vaccine dose

Date published: 11 January 2021

Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride has welcomed the endorsement and support from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges for the decision to prioritise the first Covid-19 vaccine dose.

Dr McBride said the public statement from the Academy provided a “clear and concise” summary of the issue.

The statement can be read on the Academy of Medical Royal College's website.

The Academy is the coordinating body for the UK and Ireland’s 23 medical Royal Colleges and Faculties.

Dr McBride said: “The UK-wide decision to reschedule second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is in line with the authorisation and approval of the MHRA and expert advice of the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

“It will protect the greatest number of at risk people in the shortest possible time and will have the greatest impact on reducing mortality, severe disease and hospitalisations and in protecting the health service.”

The Department of Health issued a detailed briefing last week on the rescheduling of second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine.

 

Notes to editors: 

  1. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
  2. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt.
  3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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