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THE government must appoint a vaccine minister to avoid another protective-quipment “fiasco,” one of Britain’s biggest unions demanded yesterday.
Unite urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to appoint the new cabinet position to ensure the smooth roll-out of the jab.
The union fears that without senior ministerial leadership in place, Britain will see a repeat of the “fiasco” over PPE that left thousands of health workers without proper protection.
Unite is also urging the government to issue a second “call to arms” to British manufacturing to produce the vaccine.
The union wants medicine manufacturing to be put on a par with energy, water supply and defence as a matter of national security.
Pfizer’s breakthrough vaccine for Covid-19 could be rolled out in Britain in weeks, with 30 million doses in the country by Christmas.
Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: “UK manufacturing stands ready to make good on the promise this scientific breakthrough offers, but the absence of ministerial leadership will hamper our efforts to get the job done.
“Our fear is that unless there is one clear voice around the government table tasked with getting this product manufactured and safely delivered the length and breadth of the country, we will lag behind other nations in protecting our people and getting the economy moving again.
“We must not repeat the earlier fiasco with PPE that saw the UK government chasing around the world looking for kit.”
No 10 had not responded to requests for comment as the Star went to press.
