IT is “astonishing” that front-line police officers have not been given a level of priority by the Government for the Covid-19 vaccine, West Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

Chairman Brian Booth said police officers face the risk of bringing covid-19 home to themselves and their families on duty but have not been named in the queue for the vaccine.

“Frontline health and social care workers” are second in the Government’s published priority list for the vaccine roll-out but the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation did not add police officers to the list.

It follows outrage from Ken Marsh, the chair of Metropolitan Police Federation, who revealed there had been "no discussion whatsoever around [his] colleagues" being considered for the initial roll-outs of the vaccine.

Speaking to Police Professional, Mr Marsh said: “How well has this been thought out? We are your protectors. We are out there on the front line. We could be super spreaders because our officers travel and provide mutual aid across the country. It’s like we don’t exist. It’s amazing."

He added: “It beggars belief that you want us to be put into this position where we are out there on front line keeping the public safe from Covid-19 and yet we are not even in the consideration to be provided the protection from the varying vaccines."

Backing the call for change from West Yorkshire, Mr Booth warned that "behind each officer is a family with potential vulnerability".

He continued: "We have heard no mention of police officers being on the list to be vaccinated as soon as possible. There’s been no discussion whatsoever around my colleagues. It’s astonishing, and sadly shows what they think of us.

“My colleagues have remained at the frontline in the fight against Covid-19. Putting themselves and their families at risk to ensure we try and keep the general public safe. I am dismayed to see that there is no prioritisation in relation to the vaccine being administered.

“Meaning for the vast majority of officers, they are likely to be vaccinated mid next year. In the meantime continuing to Police difficult situations where it is not possible to mitigate risk, for example arresting a violent individual. No PPE is strong enough to stay in place during a struggle and puts the officer at risk of infection. 

“I hope that this is reconsidered by Government, as officers are in the unique position of not being able to control the environment that they work in, this differs greatly to other frontline workers. The vaccination will mean our Police remain match fit for what they face day to day.”

According to the Government, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation “does not advise further prioritisation by occupation during the first phase of the [Vaccination] programme.”

It adds: “Occupational prioritisation could form part of a second phase of the programme, which would include healthy individuals from 16 years of age up to 50 years of age, subject to consideration of the latest data on vaccine safety and effectiveness.”

Brian concluded: “We must be given a level of priority when the Covid-19 vaccine is more widely rolled out - officers need to be vaccinated as soon as possible with every front line worker who is helping the national effort. Behind each officer is a family with potential vulnerability."

Response from Public Health England

JCVI said it has based prioritisation on an assessment of the risk of exposure and risk of mortality by occupation.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI, said: “The JCVI’s advice on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible. As the single greatest risk of death from COVID-19 is older age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.

“It is estimated that vaccinating everyone in the priority groups would prevent 99% of deaths, including those associated with occupational exposure to infection."