Why are the army not being drafted in to vaccinate?

[boysonthesofa]

I cannot understand why we aren't using military to deliver vaccines. Surely this is what they are for? National emergency! Instead we are waiting on retired medics to come back into service... and we're not ready for next week. This seems like one major Fuck up to come when people realise that not enough people are being jabbed each week... any ideas? It seems nonsensical.

Well, Israel used the army, but they have a much smaller population (9 million) and they have about 8 x as many soldiers per head of population, as they conscript. We don't have as many soldiers these days. They are also being used elsewhere eg logistics of schools testing.

I understand Tesco are getting involved?

And they are probably interested in volunteers, if you have some free time.

Have you volunteered OP?

I’ve wondered about this too OP!

My nephew is in the army and says his regiment is itching to get involved. They are well trained and efficient so I think they would be ideal in this situation or to run the testing in schools.

Expecting teachers to carry out mass testing along with everything else they need to do is ridiculous.

I think some of you are missing my point. The defence secretary has already said he is on standby to deliver way int excess of what GPs can but hasn't been asked. Which is CRAZY.

I wondered the same. The whole vaccine thing is a disaster, and falling apart at the seams, with people now not getting the 2nd dose. Why isn't this all an absolute priority?

I've volunteered and not heard anything.

Israel have almost done 10% of their population already.

I posted exactly this last night on here.
What bigger emergency do we need? Huge job losses, economy is at the brink of recession. Don’t know what we are waiting for.

Because there actually is no army.

@lunar1

I've volunteered and not heard anything.

Israel have almost done 10% of their population already.

It’s remarkable, isn’t it?

I think the issue is the actual availability of the vaccines rather than not having enough people to administer the vaccines.

@Elephant4

Because there actually is no army.

What do you mean?

@Elephant4

Because there actually is no army.

This. I think people don’t quite realise how small our military is now vs this size of operation.

A world superpower we are not.

The army will be involved in the Covid testing of children on returning to school after summer.

@lunar1

The U.K. has actually administered more doses of the vaccine than Israel it's just that their population is much smaller so they get to 10% more quickly if you see what I mean.

The second doses cancellation is part of a deliberate campaign to give as many people as possible the first dose in order to provide some protection more widely.

@Torvean32

The army will be involved in the Covid testing of children on returning to school after summer.

1500 for all the schools in the country. Via virtual means, that should sort it.

ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

@QueenStromba

I think the issue is the actual availability of the vaccines rather than not having enough people to administer the vaccines.

This.

There aren't millions and millions of doses ready to go, and then it won't just be the UK needing them when they are manufactured so there'll inevitably be a wait.

@Torvean32

The army will be involved in the Covid testing of children on returning to school after summer.

Over the phone-1500 of them. Great.

What HT need is space and staffing. Or to not be responsible for testing at all.

Perhaps the army could do it themselves at testing sites, or community centres. Or, the testing people already at testing sites, perhaps.

@Acti

Have you volunteered OP?

I hate posts like this. There's always one. You're implying that OP should sort the problem out herself without any idea of their personal circumstances, availability and co-morbidities. It's gatekeeping the issue, saying you can't complain unless you get stuck in yourself.

Because I'm sure if OP volunteered then the whole issue would be solved for all of us wouldn't it.

Why do people make these posts, it's just having a nasty little dig for no reason and adds nothing to the discussion.

For a short time earlier this year, I worked on the military Covid response. Whilst I don't know the detail OP, my educated estimate (as a middle grade army officer) would be to look at the other things that the military are "standing by" to do.

This is things like Brexit planning and logistics, U.K. flooding, U.K. terrorism, overseas emergencies and the like.

You can't commit x00 soldiers to vaccination programmes and then lift them at the last minute because Somewhere is experiencing life threatening flooding etc.

In addition, there's far far far more red tape than anyone expected in becoming a vaccinator, including a DBS check which soldiers don't routinely have.

It's complex and I know lots of soldiers are itching to get involved. Sadly not that simple.

I would be much happier with the army taking charge and coordinating the vaccinations alongside the NHS/volunteers.

Sadly not that simple

It could be though. We’re victims of our own red tape. Are DBS’s strictly necessary for vaccinations? It’s unlikely people will be left working alone.

@Cornettoninja nope. Neither is radicalisation training but that's what the system has deemed is necessary. It's insane. Really bonkers but... what can be done?

@Acti

Have you volunteered OP?

I have. And I’ve got 30 hours plus of e-learning to do. Even though I’m live on the nmc register and can do a shift at the hospital when I want giving people injections, etc.

I can understand a bit of vaccination specific training but not all this.

@QueenStromba

I think the issue is the actual availability of the vaccines rather than not having enough people to administer the vaccines.

That’s what I thought too.