Storm Christoph snow and floods threaten to close Covid jab centres and derail UK’s record-breaking vaccination blitz
STORM Christoph is set to wreck havoc on the UK’s record breaking Covid vaccination programme as torrential rain could close jab centres.
It comes as the number of jabs has fallen for the third straight day, slumping to 204,000 today.
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Health bosses blamed a weekend lag in reporting, with figures expected to be significantly higher tomorrow.
Officials were hoping to surpass 400,000 daily jabs by the end of this week.
But persistent heavy rain, snow and flooding is now forecast for much of the midlands and north as Storm Christoph sweeps in.
Health bosses fear it will hamper the vaccination blitz – with clinics forced to closed and vulnerable Brits urged to stay indoors.
On Friday a record 324,233 people got their first jab against the virus.
But figures slumped over the weekend, with supply constraints and lower numbers of vaccinators blamed for the drop.
Medics in England carried out 170,900 jabs yesterday, Department of Health data out today shows.
That is well below the 324,711 vaccinations dished out last Friday – the highest daily figure recorded so far.
Realistically there’s going to be some disruption, particularly in the north. If roads are closed then supplies can’t get through.
Government source
And it is significantly lower than the number of jabs carried out last Wednesday and Thursday, which were around 250,000 and 275,000 respectively.
Dr Duncan Robertson, an analyst at Loughborough University, said: “The number vaccinated has fallen for three successive days.
“It would be useful to know what the vaccine supply schedule is over the next weeks and months, and the reason for this decrease.”
And by Monday it has fallen to just 204,076 first doses given to patients – although it is still up a third compared to a week earlier.
Officials hoped roll-out will now pick up following the opening of ten more mass immunisation centres.
However, the weather is set to throw a spanner in the works.
The Environment Agency yesterday issued 15 flood warnings and 117 less serious flood alerts across England.
A Government source said: “It looks like we may have to slow down in affected areas, at least for a bit.
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“Realistically there’s going to be some disruption, particularly in the north. If roads are closed then supplies can’t get through.
“We were hoping to hit 400,000 daily vaccinations this week, but we can’t be encouraging vulnerable older people to attend clinics if there’s flooding.”
