Over 400 staff members at ferry and bus transport operators on the Isle of Wight have been offered the COVID-19 vaccine by the local NHS, Island Echo can reveal.
Young and healthy individuals are receiving their first dose before many of the Island’s elderly and at-risk residents.
According to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), those over the age of 70, the clinically extremely vulnerable and members of staff from the health and care sector should receive the vaccine first. This is a nationally agreed plan of action to roll out the vaccine to those who make up 88% of deaths.
3 weeks ago, one of the priority groups was quietly expanded to include a subsection of people who are supporting NHS services, even though they may not be directly employed by the NHS. Locally, it is said that travel companies come under this expansion, particularly as they help to bring the vaccine over to the Isle of Wight and also transport patients and staff.
However, Island Echo is told that some office staff and others who are not involved in patient or medical transfer are being given the vaccine under this umbrella, whilst thousands of elderly people and key workers, like teachers, patiently wait their turn.
Reassurance has been sought from all 4 transport operators – Wightlink, Red Funnel, Hovertravel and Southern Vectis – that only those in direct contact with NHS staff or patients are being vaccinated. All have come back to say that only ‘frontline’ staff are being vaccinated.
Wightlink has confirmed that 101 of its frontline staff who live on the Island, who come into contact with customers every day, have been vaccinated. They say that the NHS on the Isle of Wight has offered vaccinations to ferry workers who are maintaining lifeline sailings transporting food and other essential supplies to the Island and enabling key workers to cross the Solent.
Hovertravel has confirmed it was also invited by the NHS to forward an offer of a vaccination to all its frontline staff operating the route between Ryde and Southsea. Hovertravel’s privacy policy means that it did not record which individuals accepted the offer from the NHS. When asked to confirm if office staff and those working from home have been vaccinated, a spokesperson said that ‘frontline staff’ includes all staff which at any time can involve a customer/patient facing role.
Red Funnel has confirmed 91 staff have been offered vaccines to date but that vaccines have not been offered to any staff in non-public facing roles, including those who exclusively work from home. Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, has said:
“Anything that can be done to strengthen the resilience of our service and support the health and safety of our key workers, and the customers they serve is very welcome. Keeping our frontline teams as strong and healthy as possible, across all three cross-Solent ferry operators, puts us all in a better position to maintain our vital services, including the reliable movement of freight and supplies, and support for Islanders who still need to travel for essential reasons.”
It’s known that over 200 Southern Vectis staff members have been vaccinated, but a tweet confirming this has since been deleted. The bus company hasn’t commented on whether only drivers have been given the vaccine.
Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager has said:
“I can confirm that key workers from Southern Vectis received their first Covid-19 vaccination this week, following an approach from the Island’s Hospital Hub. I would like to thank all those involved in this effort, which we had to turn around at short notice. This vaccine will provide our team members with additional protection against the virus, while they provide a vital service for NHS workers and patients travelling across the Island.”
A spokesperson for the NHS has said:
“The NHS is prioritising people most at-risk of Covid-19, in line with the guidance set by the JCVI, with the aim of offering everyone in these groups a vaccination by the middle of February.
“Local vaccination sites manage their appointment lists to ensure all appointments are filled and so they have a back-up list of patients and staff that help keep the Isle of Wight infrastructure moving , in the top four cohorts, who can receive the vaccine at short notice.
“Nobody outside of these cohorts has received a vaccine.”
Island Echo has asked for further details surrounding the back-up list. Details regarding the number of people that have been vaccinated on the Island specifically are unknown, but across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight this number is 227,000.
Vix Lowthion, the national education spokesperson for the Green Party, has said:
“I’m pleased that frontline workers such as the transport sector are receiving the extra protection from vaccination. However, transport staff are not unique in their contact with the public.
“The vaccination program should be accessible to all frontline workers, including police force, prison officers and teachers. If we are to get the nation and the island back to work safely, then frontline workers need and deserve the extra protection that a vaccine will give.”
What are your thoughts on this? Join the discussion below…
COVID-19 Vaccination First Phase Priority Groups
| Priority | Risk group |
|---|---|
| 1✔️ | Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults |
| 2✔️ | All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers |
| 3✔️ | All those 75 years of age and over |
| 4 ✔️ | All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age) |
| 5 | All those 65 years of age and over |
| 6 | Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group (medically, not occupationally) |
| 7 | All those 60 years of age and over |
| 8 | All those 55 years of age and over |
| 9 | All those 50 years of age and over |
| 10 | Rest of the population (to be determined) |
OK what about bin men then! they empty the bins and are front line because there would soon be a massive pile of rubbish built up should they become ill! then move on to teachers then the butcher the baker and the candlestick maker
Unbelievable!
Well said
they have to start somewhere or would you prefer a tree hugging, hand wringing, lefty socialist way of doing it.. by having one ferry worker,one binman, one postie, one checkout operator etc in each group, then repeat it.
always worth noting, that without the ferry staff – you all starve to death.
Wrong I thought the island had airports and didnt you have the drone to drop the vaccine over! sorry but either way the elderly should get the jab first! no point in trying to justify it!
Not necessarily. Some never leave their homes.
Why should they?As they are already knocking on deaths door!Vaccinate the young first who have got to live there lives.i am a ninety one year old and let me tell you getting old sucks!
Out of order mate the elderly fought wars for you
most of the elderly that fought in wars are already dead. There are probably only about 1000 over 90 on the island, that would have been old enough to fight in the second world war left.
your argument lost its power, many years ago.
That is a disgusting comment – obviously at your age do not have elderly parents but your relatives may like you to live as long as possible. Make the most of years left and get the vaccination
That thing is not 90, just a chav, it’s attitude gives it away.
And the name! A 91 year old named Darren?!
With out the shop assistant no food in the shop
What about all the newcomers to the UK first.
As without many, many of them blessing us with their arrival, far more Police, Court officials, prison warders, Surgeons, gun dealers, knife sellers, drug dealers, A&E units, Ambulance drivers, maternity ward staff, rape crisis centre staff, builders, teachers, foster carers, and countless others who are mostly needed due to their costly needs would be out of work.
Don’t forget taxi drivers that take people to hospital, school kids, and people going to there Doctor.
Postal workers
I thinks it very important we vaccinate the ferry staff so they can carry on ripping us off
Thanks hovertravel office staff, pushing older people down the line, what about Shop staff etc etc just stick to the list of people
since when – all their office staff will be working from home, in line with government guidelines – it will only be those working at the terminals, getting this
Hovertravel office staff have had it
boring whiners, sat at home doing nothing, except expecting preferential treatment on everything – how about you sit back and thank those out in all weathers making sure the transport system works and that your stupid food gets to you
ungrateful, selfish spongers.
Right back at you Leech by name leech by nature. You have no elderly or vulnerable in your family? Some of out elders fought and sacrificed for this country during the war and many years of hardship afterwards. Take your vaccine and stick it up your a*** you ignorant and selfish excuse for a human being.
thats it jacks…trot out the old “they fought in wars” routine. May i remind you that those who fought in the last large scale conflict in the last century, would have to be at least 16 to fight, which means those of fighting age would be around 92 years old now.
the 2011 census showed that there were 1813 over 90’s on the island. as this was ten years ago, it would be fare to say that the number of over 80’s which was about 7000, at that time, would now be the over 90’s category and probably about a 1800 to 2000 of them.
as the vaccine program will have most likely already vaccinated all the over 90’s, apart from the odd few, your argument about fighting in wars doesn’t hold water like it did years ago – quite simply because most of those that did fight in WW2 have died since.
try again jacks – you are just another boring whiner.
I’m walking past hovertravel at this very moment. The service has been suspended. Again. The staff aren’t coming into contact with anyone at all today. Using the current way of thinking shouldn’t the floating bridge staff be front of the que for the jab?
Lol the floating bridge staff that never end up actually on the floating bridge as it’s never fit for service. Give it a break and wait your turn
Well hover Travel had a case in there dec so prob needed!!was kept quiet despite handful in cabin section were sent home too isolate.all kept hush hush even though media were told this also.well paid managers are sat on arse at home whole time
quite rightly so – the elderly won’t get any food or medicine if the ferries stop operating
Exactly if they are shielding at this time if lock down we all need food medicines and this is our only means of getting it 2 the island, also supermarket workers have been frontlune right from the start .
But I still say the NHS care staff should all be at the front of the queue as without them looking after us where would be .
Unfortunately so many ways to look at who should go first think we just have to accept that changes within the prio list s can change .
Doesn’t mean that one person is more important than the next though .
61 and have to work, in the at risk group
So do I.
The Guidelines have been ignored AGAIN. I certainty dont object to people on the front line getting immunised. But come, on not all and sundry
Well, if so many people hadn’t ignored the guidelines in the first place and came to the Island from Portsmouth and Southampton and others coming over here to their second homes AND the locals ignoring the rules that they either don’t agree with/don’t care about/can’t be bothered with, then perhaps we wouldn’t all be in this parlous state. PLEASE, wear a mask if you go out. Remember the best thing to keep the virus at bay is the front door. Yes, I am over 70 and no, I don’t mind waiting a bit longer if those in the front line get theirs early. Just let their consciences be their guide.
Well said grumpy.
Finally someone I agree with who isn’t blaming the government all the time and realises it’s actually our doing or should I say the british public for spreading this virus.
Yea I’m well into my 70s , and waiting patiently for the jab. An even more elderly neighbour has had her jab appointment cancelled and her GP will have to rearrange it. Reason. They HAD run out of vaccine.
I wonder if this action is a local NHS decision???
I’m replying to me. Yippee, Just got our letters from NHS for our jab appointments took a week to get to me, but no matter.
Called number listed to get our appointment. After a few questions we were offered places at Poole, Christchurch. Havant and Southampton. And i apparently am at risk. I asked , quite RESONABLY. ” was there nothing on the Island that we could attend” The answer was NO as probably all slots maybe booked. ” But your welcome to keep trying this number” Disheartened.
I am really glad that the people making these decisions, important decisions to prioritise these people. (which is totally contradictory to what the NHS Heads say) based on scientific advice and guidelines. I hope their conscience will be clear for anyone who dies because their vaccination was delayed even further. Nurses medical staff, care assistants should be first but to delay the vaccination and divert it to others is quite honestly wrong and discrimination to Disabled and also to Age. How much closer are these people to danger of infection than the vulnerable to people having to attend hospital on appointments. This stinks of outside ‘influence’ all for a box of Maltesers
could argue that it is discrimination against able bodied by prioritising disabled people, with no illnesses and young.
all those red votes down for common sense speaking the truth – disabled people demanded to be treated equally alongside able bodied people in life, so they cannot demand to be treated differently on vaccines or ticket prices or front row seats or parking spaces.
Words fail me. I am extremely vulnerable and still waiting for my vaccine. The ferry companies didn’t worry about the virus when they were transporting all the tier 4 visitors too and from the island. A slap in the face yet again for all Islanders.
ferry staff are also islanders
So are all the staff in supermarkets but they are not being offered the vaccine or teachers, if the rules are bent for one they should be bent for all who have to deal with the general public thisis why the governments rules do not make sense most of the time
Not All of them!
Stick to the plan why should Teachers get preferential treatment & be pushed up the list ahead of Elderly & Venerable. Wait for your turn just like everyone else Maybe those who want to jump the Queue like teachers hovercraft staff ferry staff should be made to pay for the privilege of jumping the queue i bet they wont be so eager then. Vaccinate the elderly & venerable first
perhaps they elderly and vulnerable would like to operate the ferries whilst the staff are off sick then.
They’d probably do a damn site better job If the ferry staff hadn’t of let all them tier 4 people pour across here the island wouldn’t be in the position it is now. If you want to go down that line then Truck drivers should come before anyone else after all without them no one would get any food or anything….. You dont hear truck drivers sreaming that they should be given priority
no ferry staff, no ferries, no food or medicine
Yet again sensational media reporting. The reality is that the Pfizer vaccine has a very short shelf life, the NHS are doing the best they can and where they have excess vaccines that would otherwise need to be discarded they are drawing upon a backup list of people to issue the vaccine to. I would suggest that Island Echo put this statement to the CCG and see if they agree.
Drone and Chinook!
Shop assistant, bin men, etc, etc, etc
supermarket food delivery people, who meet loads of people a week.
They keep a safe distance usually far back from doorstep.
The elderly would do a better job
You do know the difference between venerable and vulnerable, right?
What makes you think teachers want the vaccine first? As a relatively young and healthy teacher, I would much prefer any vaccine to go to someone elderly or vulnerable before I get it, but I am not sure I will be given a choice if I want to get back into the classroom. Teachers don’t get to make decisions on when schools are open, closed, or even what we get to teach the children. What makes you think we will have a choice as to whether we are vaccinated or not?
perhaps the transport companies could help themselves by insisting frontline staff wear mask, not been near the ferries but have not seen a bus driver or taxi driver wearing a mask when i have seen them. Show some responsibility, gain the respect and then face to face frontline (not all) transport staff will get backing for que jumping.
Ferries who quite frankly were money grabbing and probably a major cause of the new variant hitting the island, they should have to source their own supply of vaccine if they want to jump the que for all staff. AND they should insist essential travellers remain in vehicles on crossings reducing all face to face contact (only foot passengers left so social distancing made easier). lots of services working and with face to face contact with the public also need to be considered for priority eg (school staff, supermarket, chemists posties etc)
yawn
I bus daily. Drivers are not required to wear masks as they are behind a perspex screen BUT many do wear a mask. I had not had chance to top up my Key card so one day last week I had to pay by this now rare and strange manner called “cash”. The bus driver looked most uncomfortable with this and I saw he vigorously gelled his hands once he’d put my £ away. Quite pleasing to see. Most are taking this situation seriously. Stay safe all.
They don’t enforce mask wearing on buses though. Every bus I see has passengers unmasked on top deck.
The Train Drivers on Island Line have also been included as I kniw of one who was given the Vacine today…
Farcical as the trains are out !…
Just because the trains aren’t running, don’t forget the the mechanics and engineers who are working to get the the line ready for the new trains. They need the Vaccine to do their job, they wear masks as well, I live along the line and they go up and down with the heavy machinery all day.
They aren’t drivers! Plenty of key workers in that line of work where do we draw the line!
If you are not in the working sector and you a person at risk and have not had your vaccine yet then don’t worry, you will soon but until then, stay at home, keep away from people and you will longer be at risk.
Need to work, can’t stay at home, in n the at risk group
I would rather donate my vaccination to key workers like ferry staff or bin men who are out there keeping things running rather than old folk who shouldn’t catch covid because they dont need to go out.
Some of us do need to go out, because we can’t get home deliveries from Supermarkets, either because the slots are all taken up by younger people or they don’t have access to computers to order. I have been doing our shopping once a week instead of once a day to minimise exposure, I also do the shopping for an older friend of mine who is seriously housebound and deliver his to him. And thank you to the shops that are now at last enforcing the mask rules with a little more effort. (And I’m not getting at younger people ordering online for home delivery, because they are playing their part by staying at home.) I could go on, but I need my Horlicks.
Well said. I see old people in my street still “popping” down the shops daily to get stuff. Do they seriously not get it? Sometimes you wonder why we are protecting some of them that do this as we stay at home and I also only shop once a week so why can’t they reduce their outings?
In some countries, in Asia, they are priotizing the children first. No one over 65 is getting a vaccine until everyone else is done!!
As it all disintegrates into absolute mayhem as usual. but hey Dr Legg seems to think they are on track to finish off the care home patients and staff on time.
Taxi drivers are part of transport when taking children to school and patients to hospital, thay do the same job as a bus driver…
As someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable and has been isolating since Feb 2020. I’m ok with the workers getting it that are in direct contact for most of the day from people who may have covid. I wonder how many bus drivers have suffered? But I worry that I will be stuck indoors for another six months as I am pushed further down the list. I’ve not been to my office for a year which is hard. But worse I have missed a years worth of appointments at Southampton. My condition is not being maintain correctly and as a result have had two bad episodes. Each time they leave lasting damage on my lungs. The medication that keeps me alive needs to be monitored, it is not. Once I get both jabs I will be in a good position to go to Southampton and get the long list of tests that are well over due.
“a back-up list of patients and staff that help keep the Isle of Wight infrastructure moving , in the top four cohorts, who can receive the vaccine at short notice”
Question How do you get on the list
Have councillors and county hall people been prioritised.
Where is it recorded who actually makes these additions to the cohorts
What precautions been taken to prevent Cronyism
Are Wightlink not going on strike? What about all those unpaid unrecognised people who care for elderly relatives who live on their own and would not survive without them are they not front line, there actions prevent many admissions to hospital everyday.
The ferries should only be letting essential travellers only at the moment so shouldn’t be very busy, or are they preparing themselves for the half term influx.
I’m at number nine on the list I think. My elderly parents were both vaccinated last week in Shanklin.
More than happy to wait my turn and give these others a first go.
People here need to think – they complain about visitors bringing the virus – well – covering the majority of the bases in the transport infrastructure, in some ways, goes toward protecting us all from each other and those naughty visitors from overseas!
Stop whining and let’s all be at list a little happy that some logical and structured thought has gone into this decision.
Handy seeing as almost no one is using public transport.
Agree! If you go on a car ferry, in particular, in ‘normal’ times you don’t come in contact with ferry staff. It would be easy for the lorry drivers to stay in their cabs, same with ‘essential’ travellers. As for the buses, at least 3 per hour go past my house, nobody on them! Why are they being run?!
All working people, especially if working with the public should get vaccinated first. Retired people can generally isolate and stay at home. We need medical staff, carers, pharmacists, police and firepersons, bus drivers, supermarket staff, teachers, bank staff etc etc to be kept safe at work and have the vaccine.
Well said .
After NHS police firemen ambulance drivers .
So if your precious Johnny or Princess needed to go over to the Mainland for some urgent treatment but the ferries were not running because they all had covid as the Post office had to deal with a few days ago, what your thoughts be then.
We all choose to live on this Island knowing what the terms and conditions are to get ourselves off and as we all should know and realise is that we don’t have the infrastructure or financial resources to just say it isn’t an issue.
The ferry staff in my humble opinion should have the jab and then we can all move forward in a positive way that may suit any poor individual that needs to get across the water
.I fully understand that you all will not agree to my views and I accept that but this is my personal opinion just as much as you have stated yours.
Think about it
Regards
John
I agree but as long as it is only essential travel but unfortunately we all know others slip through the net or tell porkies to use the ferries.
My friends, a 94yo couple in the center of Ryde, await their first vaccination. If the priorities are to be changed, it must be nationally agreed, and open to scrutiny. He was an under-age volunteer for bomber command in the war and she was a nurse. They deserve clarity not false hopes.
I’m young and healthy but I am currently working with covid patients. I had my first vaccine yesterday where I had to attend the hospital for it, needless to say they weren’t overly busy. People need to help themselves young or elderly, and attend the places where they are currently offering vaccinations. Right now they will vaccinate anyone that is willing to attend and participate. We also need to take into consideration people’s risk status as even the young, and exceptionally key workers who are classed as high risk, but still attend their job and do their bit throughout this dreaded pandemic.
Do you even know the system? You have to wait to be ‘invited’ to your appointment, you can’t just roll up and expect to get a vaccination!
You can’t just turn up! You get sent an invitation or appointment. And not all elderly can travel to get it if it’s not their usual doctors
And i know of carers working in the community that still haven’t got the vaccine, so it appears that whoever is deciding on who is getting the jab is not carrying out what they say they will do.
They have told us what the order of importance is, so why have they not adhered to it.
Yes i’m a essential worker just under 65, and will wait for that letter, but a little annoyed carers are still waiting for their letter.
Are Portsmouth and Southampton vaccinating the ferry and hovercraft staff who live over there ?
is st marys only vaccinating born and bred islanders, or the anyone that shows up.
What a strange question. Do you believe only born and bred islanders deserve it then? And they don’t just turn up or to st Mary’s. There’s vaccination clinics set up and it’s appointment and invitation only.
So my wife who is a teacher, and tasked with looking after key worker and vulnerable children , through all the lockdowns, no ppe, no social distancing. She doesn’t get the vaccine yet. But sit your bum in a nice office and according to the report you qualify. Not right.
Calm down every one we will all get the jab in time,simply keep to the rules and all should be fine .
I am a clinically vulnerable person . I am shielded. I have a compromised immune system and am on immune suppressants. This means for most if the last year I have mainly stayed in my home, only allowed out for a walk every day. A very sad existence indeed. When it was announced that I was in group 4 and a priority for the vaccine it finally gave me some hope that my life might be given back to me. That I would be able to venture out to the supermarket even. So it is very frustrating and disheartening when I see our vaccination service on the island flouting the governments advice and innoculating people outside of the first 4 priority groups. And leaving people like me locked inside our homes for even longer. I think whoever made this terrible decision is ashamed of themselves
how about all workers stop making sure your electric water gas and food gets to you then….selfish or what
Right THINK – firstly remember that without public transport many other wonderful people who have kept other services going would not be able to get to work which includes many \NHS staff. Our buses for example have kept running a service throughout. A friend tells me that even now there are people getting on the bus without masks or who dont keep them over their noses or who think its ok to get on with a mask but then take it off when the driver cant see them. The drivers cant enforce the wearing of masks and have to put up with all this. Passengers are asked to pay by card; obviously this is not possible for some but is it right to keep offering a £10 or £20 note for a single fare forcing the driver to handle cash .This is of course similar in shops but often their are restrictions as to the number of people who are allowed in at a time. unless you would be prepared to drive a bus, stuck in your little cab area, handling cash from many different people, listening to the coughs and sneezes, seeing the lack of face coverings, for long shifts at a time, then pleas stop moaning.
Usual IW cronyism. My parents in their 80s with underlying conditions still waiting, and a mate who’s a teacher on the shielding list. The categories do not include young, fit transport workers for a while yet, but IW finds a way to make it happen. It couldn’t possibly be ferry workers due to a desire to get the holidaymakers back ASAP, could it?
Well people have to say something you must have better things to do than Wright comments that are totally wrong
My question is why are they frightened to publish the vaccination figures for the island, they must know how many people have been vaccinated. Come on be brave and publish the figures!
Ok smithy
yes we have not left our home because we have been advised to stay to in to keep everyone safe ! I might add that my wife and I have not had contact with anyone
For 11 months except delivery drivers from Tesco /Morrison’s and Sadly a funeral with masks and no physical contact with any of the 9 mourners
HOW ABOUT YOU ???
Had my Jab today so hopefully when my wife gets hers we may be able to go out probably in 6 or 7 weeks and have a bit of freedom
Because we are old it doesn’t mean we are sedentary just more likely to Die if we get stricken with this wicked virus
I wasn’t generalising. I’m a key worker and have been working with the elderly since this all began and from experience most don’t need or want to go out and about . I’m not saying it applies to all in any way just that some of us don’t get a choice and have to be on the frontline whether we like it or not.
They want reporting then, it’s disgusting
Surely we should be giving the jab to the people who are keeping the country going.
The old people can stay at home until the workers are jabbed. How many times have we seen the elderly moaning about having to wait in a centre for an injection, or it’s to far for me to travel or
when i get their i have to wait for a lift to get home etc etc.
When they do get their injection they now think they are invincible and there is not a problem anywhere and walk around still spreading the virus.
Ok, I’m ashamed to say, i have spent a bit of time, reading comments, on this platform. When, i should of been watching Discourse of An Alien Sky, on YouTube (brilliant, blew my mind) Iam an islander & i was born here & it’s my only home. Lets follow the science, people either freeze, flight, or fright. So, everyone’s comments, are valid. If discussed. Rather then “i wish you were on a covid ward, to see how you like it”, doesn’t win any arguments. I have been in 2 minds, about everything, since covid. After the first lockdown, we went for a drive & saw loads of people, at the beach. Smiling, happy & free, all ages. I ENVIED them, because, although iam only in my 40’s, i was too frightened to join in, so to speak. I also know there is a virus out there, & iam aware, that it takes peoples lives. I wont say how, because i have no wish to feed the “trauma porn” folk. But, i also know that out of the 100million+ Covid cases, world wide, over 100 million, have survived. This data is out there, just requires a longer attention span. Ok X As for the ferries, bringing people over & vice versa, again, i have been in 2 minds. Half of me loves that people are carrying on. It doesnt effect me, so, why not. Also, asking for the police to monitor what’s happening, has also been a 50/50 thing for me. Once something has been passed in law, it’s very hard to reverse. But, half of me wishes the island wasn’t advertised so much, for common sense reasons. So, i understand folk being upset, about anyone coming over, it’s not because they are hatefu, or xenophobic, its because they are frightened. And, thats ok x If they really hated people, they would travel any where & every where, to infect folk, out of spite. So, lets be a little more tolerant to other view points. Even folk who dont believe in lock downs & masks etc, have a valid point. Because the science is out there. To people who dont want a vaccine, fine, that’s their choice & right, not too. To the people who say they are selfish & shouldnt be allowed out, why? If you’ve had the vaccine, what would you be scared off? So, every one is correct, in how they think etc, just love all the people xxxx
I would like to know who sanctioned this? Over cancer patients????? & the very high risk?????
cancer patients cannot travel to the mainland without the ferries operating – many travel on the hovercraft each day and are collected by the wessex cancer daisy bus from their southsea terminal. i have seen them, when i have been over for work. It makes sense to have the crews vaccinated as it provides greater protection for those patients with weaker immune systems, not to mention the fact that if the ferry is off due to staff sickness, no one gets to travel for treatment.
I personally think its disgusting the government said front line hospital staff the elderly and care home workers were to be first , I’m to have my jab middle of February as I’m 50 and very vulnerable I’m shielding for the 3rd time , does this mean that I will not get my vaccine in mid February coz, wightlink and hover , and red funnel staff how has this happened, I’m only 56 and just had a kidney transplant I better get my vaccine when I’m supposed to ,and every body else who are vulnerable gets there’s to . Or there will be an up roar out of a year I have spent all together 1 month out of my flat that like being in prison. I know there are 1000s of others doing the same so no bad vibes please
Hope you get the jab soon
And all the best for your future,
Tough times but it will get better.
whinge, whinge, whinge, me, me, me
whilst you have been indoors, how have you got your food and mail, I wonder. Oh yes, because the ferry staff were out in all weathers making sure it got to the island for you to eat and obtain your correspondence.
how about you think of those actually out working with a job, rather than all those sat indoors, being dependent on others.
The problem is that we are asking (forcing…) people to put the interests of the community as a whole ahead of those of the individual.
Because of that it is important is not only fair but is SEEN to be fair.
If stories start circulating about secret back door lists where who you know is as important as what your need is it undermines support for the whole system.
We are being asked to put our lives at risk here by waiting for the vaccine so it is only reasonable to expect those administering it to show that they deserve our trust.
Wo is on the “backup” list is far less important than why they are there and that information is currently in short supply,
You can make a case for essential workers (police, firefighters, teachers, essential transport workers) to be put in a priority group, but as of right now they are not. Only front line health and social care workers are supposed to be prioritised for occupational reasons (with the focus being on elderly and clinically vulnerable people ie those most likely to die). Prioritising everyone – by taking a ludicrously expansive view of “front line health care workers” – means you prioritise noone and will undoubtedly cost lives. Shame on the IoW NHS. Shame, shame, shame. And shame on these ferry companies for accepting, too.
Still waiting for a call from The Bay Shanklin. I am 74. Friends who are younger than me have had their vaccines already