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Lack of planning could affect the next phase of the launch of the coronavirus vaccine, MPs warned.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) praised the “global” effort to take the hit to the most vulnerable, but said there is “a lot to do” if the UK government is to hit its next target.
The ministers aim to deliver a hit to some 15 million people in the top four priority groups by February 15, then another 17.7 million people in the next five groups, including all those over 50, to end of April.
More than 13.5 million people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus so far
But a new PAC report said: “We are concerned about the lack of planning by departments for the next phase of the program and about learning the lessons from what has already been done that will be vital to the success of the program.”
Despite confidence that the UK has access to more than enough doses, the committee said there were “concerns” about the supply chain.
He urged ministers to ensure that there are plans to respond to possible future developments, such as the need for an annual vaccination program or the discovery of new variants of the virus.
Previously, both the Scottish and Welsh decentralized administrations said they expected a slight drop in the number of vaccines, but added that the measure was already “planned” and “considered”.
The committee said the government will continue to face “significant challenges” in ensuring the hit reaches “the right people at the right time,” particularly given the different handling requirements of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.
There is a risk that their plans for the program “will not meet the expectations of the public,” the committee said, emphasizing the need for a clear message.
“At times, the government has had trouble communicating clearly to the public what they can expect from the vaccine program; otherwise, it runs the risk of confusion about who will be able to access the vaccine, how and when,” said MPs.
“With misinformation about vaccines circulating on various digital platforms, clear communication from the government is particularly important to maintain public trust and acceptance.”
The committee said there was a “strong case” for re-examining which groups should be prioritized after the most vulnerable have been vaccinated, especially key front-line workers who are most exposed to community transmission of the virus.
The PAC said the government may ‘not meet the public’s expectations’
A government spokesman said: “This report rightly recognizes the enormous effort that is being made to implement the largest vaccination program in the history of the NHS, with more than 13.5 million people receiving their first dose so far.
“The government is confident that the regular dose supply we have secured for the UK will support the continued expansion of our launch in the coming weeks.
“We continue to work with Public Health England and our exceptional scientists to address the variants that are currently in the UK and ensure that we are ready to respond to new variants in the future if needed.
“And through the NHS, community leaders and religious groups, we are working to address misinformation and raise awareness of the facts about vaccines.”
