Bill Harvey: Medication

Isn’t it time we embraced vaccine passports in eye care? This should be for all staff, and we should be able to encourage as complete coverage for our patients as is possible.

Now, before you shout ‘civil liberties’ at me; I am as uncomfortable as anyone about the constant CCTV surveillance we live under, the fact that our health data is shared with commercial groups, and that our computer and smartphone activity is traceable and constantly monitored. However, I want to be part of a healthy society, nationally and globally.

Last week, I attended my first post-pandemic music festival (End of the Road in Wiltshire; best band, The Comet is Coming). Revellers of all ages were required to, having first downloaded the NHS app (not the NHS Covid app), show their Covid vaccination status. A simple click within the app generates a certificate with a QR code that, when scanned, can confirm you have had both vaccinations and the results of any PCR tests. This was easy to do and reassured all attending that they were not entering some super-spreader hell. Next week, I am taking my mum, an at-risk patient due to age and infirmity, to have her booster jab. The quicker these are rolled out to vulnerable people, the quicker the surplus vaccines can be sent abroad where badly needed, and the safer we all will be.