Page 4 - WMPF Federation FebMar2021-Hi_Neat

Chair’s introduction

Glimmers of

hope as toll of

pandemic is felt

As it stands, and some areas are already carry out their duties protecting the public.
vaccinating the over 70s, everyone will They cannot always adhere to social
receive their jab according to the age group distancing guidelines. They have no idea if
they fall into. Estimates vary in terms of the people they are dealing with have been
when each of those age brackets will get taking sensible precautions in terms of
their vaccination. protecting themselves and they can’t even
But I think it’s fair to say that those in use any of the measures employed in other
the 20 to 30 age range will be waiting for a sectors. For example, they can’t really do a
few more months. temperature check before arresting
So, it follows that many police officers someone.
– teachers and frontline keyworkers such as But, of course, it’s not just their health
the supermarket staff who have also worked that is being put at risk. Officers return to
throughout this pandemic – will not be their families at the end of their shift not
vaccinated for quite some time. knowing if they are taking the virus back to
But the Federation has been their loved ones. And, as they go about their
campaigning hard for the Government to daily duties, moving from job to job, they
reconsider its priorities. could easily be passing the virus to members
Surely, police officers – and a number of of the public too.
other professions – on whom the public has The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has
been reliant since the start of the pandemic backed the Federation on this and has won
– should be given some kind of priority the support of the Health Secretary. But we
By Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police rather than waiting to be called for a jab are now awaiting the Joint Committee for
Federation according to their age? Vaccination and Immunisation to decide
We are not saying that the most whether frontline police officers and staff,
ith the nation still struggling to vulnerable in our communities should not teachers and other key workers should be
overcome the pandemic despite come first. It is right and proper that they given a higher priority in the vaccination
Wthe nationwide lockdown and the are at the very front of the queue when it roll-out programme. We will keep you
death toll having just tipped over 100,000, it comes to protecting them from Covid. posted.
is hard not to feel that everything appears But police officers are putting their In other positive news, the three-year
very bleak. health at risk each and every day when they recruitment programme, instigated by Boris
of a million jabs had been given in our region “ In other positive news, the three-year

And yet, there is justification for feeling a
little more optimistic about the months
ahead. The coronavirus vaccines are being
recruitment programme, instigated by Boris
administered at an apparently growing rate
and, up to 21 January, more than a quarter
(Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ Johnson in 2019, is also gathering pace. So
far this year we have already welcomed 96
statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-
vaccinations/). new recruits to the Force and this level of
The Number 1 priority has
understandably been to get the most recruitment is expected to continue
vulnerable people in our communities
vaccinated first, the over 80s, those in care throughout 2021.
homes and NHS and care home staff. “

04 federation February/March 2021 www.polfed.org/westmids