Tynwald will this week be asked to support amendments to legislation to help prepare for a large scale Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Developers of the first effective coronavirus vaccine, pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNtech are seeking a temporary authorisation from the UK licensing authority so that the vaccine can be provided to the public at the earliest opportunity, if it passes final safety tests.

If Tynwald agrees, an amendment to the legislation will widen the range of health and care professionals authorised to supply, administer and manage vaccines, expanding the potential workforce. This means that when a coronavirus vaccine arrives in the island, it can be offered as quickly as possible to the population.

The proposed amendments will also ’create immunity from civil liability for specified individuals (eg healthcare professionals) from any loss or damage that results from the use of a medicinal product with a temporary authorisation in accordance with a recommendation/requirement that has been made by the MHRA’.

Minister for the Department of Health and Social Care David Ashford said: ’We have been waiting and hoping for a vaccine for Covid-19. We need to ensure our population can benefit from the vaccine without undue delay, and that means having appropriate legislation in place. By bringing these amendments to Tynwald a month earlier than planned, we are keeping ahead of the game. Our clear aim is to establish a new protocol to allow vaccinations to go ahead at pace, safely.’

The medical professionals who will be trained on how to deliver the vaccine include: a health professional regulated by the Health Care Professionals Act 2014; a dentist; a registered dental care professional; a pharmacist; a nurse or a midwife; an operating department practitioner; a paramedic or a physiotherapist.

Mr Ashford added: ’News of the vaccine breakthrough is very welcome, but there is still some way to go before vaccine supplies are released, and a number of stages to go through before we can offer it to the public. Much work is underway across government to plan the complex logistics required for roll-out.

’The changes proposed, if approved by Tynwald, will ensure we have the correct legal framework to deliver the vaccine for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.’