SENIOR members at Worcestershire County Council have been accused of jumping the Covid-19 vaccine queue.
The authority’s chief executive Paul Robinson was among those getting the Pfizeer vaccine despite claims of being healthy and not in the high-risk category.
He was joined in getting the jab by 36-year-old Jonathan Fitzgerald-Guy, the council’s assistant director for transformation and commercial.
Mr Guy was criticised after saying on social media that he had received the vaccine.
But the county council has defended the pair, saying the vaccine given would have gone to waste if not used due to its short shelf life.
A council spokesperson said: “This is not a case of queue jumping for the vaccination and this council doesn’t condone any such behaviour.
“The vaccination programme for Worcestershire is run by the NHS and not by us.
“The decision was taken by the Herefordshire & Worcestershire CCG in discussion with other NHS Partners to offer vaccinations, at short notice to avoid wastage, to system partners who are running essential services in response to the pandemic.
“We understand that other partner organisations in Worcestershire were also invited to ensure no vaccines were wasted, after the local Hospital Hub delivering the vaccines was unable to make use of all vaccines and because the Pfizer vaccine concerned would only remain useable for a few hours.
“The decision to offer vaccines to system partners was made by the NHS.
“We are aware of the sensitivity around this issue and the council did double-check with the CCG that these offers could be made, and this was confirmed.”
