'Infuriated' police officers still have 'no idea' when they will get Covid-19 vaccination as leader calls for government to take action

Home Secretary Priti Patel recently suggested police officers need to "get ready" for the vital injection, but as yet there has been no confirmation of what group officers will be placed in by The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent said nobody is suggesting officers should jump the vaccination queue, but given that they are frontline workers and having to deal with the public every day, it is a "no-brainer" that they should get the injection as soon as possible.

He also revealed colleagues and members are starting to ask when they will get the jab they need so they can do their jobs safely.

He said: "It's borderline infuriating because recently the sounds were coming out in the right direction, but we shouldn't be at this stage, they should have already been rolled out for police officers.

"The NHS rightly have got the NHS vaccine as have care workers, but it grates on officers when we are going into people's houses on a day to day basis and putting ourselves at risk in the same way social workers are and beyond that, and yet we're still not officially in receipt of it.

"I'm getting contacted numerous times a day by officers who are concerned so I will continue to bang that drum as much as I possibly can.

"It is now time for a little less conversation and more action from the Government.

"We have seen movement which is positive, but we need to see firm dates and firm comments coming out, not just aspirational statements which is what we are getting at the minute. It is not good enough.It is an absolute no-brainer, and it should be happening right now."

The Chief Executive of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens said police officers, along with teachers and other frontline workers, may be in line for Covid-19 vaccines from February 15, several weeks earlier than originally planned.

Sir Stevens said there was a “legitimate discussion” to be had on whether to switch priority to those more likely to transmit coronavirus from those more susceptible to serious infection.

The suggested move would mean public sector workers being given priority for the jabs ahead of people aged 60 to 69, in a change of government policy.