You might remember a slightly pessimistic leader column a couple of weeks ago following the news about the results of the Pfizer vaccine trials. The same concerns regarding storage logistics and availability (in the UK, at least) still exist, but the overall vaccine picture has improved in the past week or so, and there might now be some reasons to be cheerful.
Positive results from interim analysis of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca mean we now have a clearer picture of how the vaccination rollout could be managed, along with potential timeframes for the most vulnerable and most important frontline health workers to receive the jabs.
Dispensing opticians and optometrists are some of those frontline health workers and may well be among the first to receive a vaccination, but it also looks like they’ll be part of those administering the vaccinations. NHS contractors in many regions have been invited to contribute to a vaccination programme following approval of any or all of the vaccines. Training would be provided and discussion around remuneration were under way. I don’t want to sound pessimistic again but discussions around remuneration from the NHS haven’t been awfully fruitful this year.
Optimistically, life could be much like we know it by Easter. Realistically, restrictions will exist until the summer at least. Pessimistically… just kidding! Either way, there is now something to aim for. Between now and the summer, all the strategic planning worked on during lockdown and quieter periods needs to be put into place. We’ve all learned new things about ourselves in this crisis and adapted to new ways of working, but the question for now is: how many of those will be adopted by the profession and patients in the long-term?