Chesterfield MP concerned about people ‘jumping the queue’ for coronavirus jabs

The Swiftqueue website is being used by NHS trusts across the country to allow healthcare workers and over-70s to sign up for their jabs.

MORE: Chesterfield’s Covid-19 vaccination sites ‘out of jabs’ and currently closed, MP says

But Toby Perkins said links to the site have been posted on social media – and people not yet eligible for vaccinations have been getting appointments, including in Chesterfield.

He also revealed he knew of someone in their mid-50s who is not yet entitled to a vaccine but had used the website to secure an appointment – and get a jab.

Mr Perkins said: “It’s very concerning.

“The first I heard about it was Monday night when I got a text saying there was a link going around that gets you a Covid vaccine and people are getting it who aren’t yet entitled.

“So I went on to this link and it gave me an appointment as a 50-year-old – it didn’t ask me if I was a key worker.

“It allowed me to book without my NHS number and it gave me an appointment to go down tomorrow at 10.10am.

“Obviously having done that I cancelled it – I wouldn’t actually want to take someone’s appointment.

“I went down and spoke to the primary care network and they are very conscious of it – they are taking steps to prevent the system from being abused.”

Brendan Casey, chief executive of Swiftqueue, said: “Anyone who books to get the vaccine fraudulently will be turned away – full stop.

“If you do get an invitation by a shared link dishonestly to make an appointment, I am asking that you don’t – as you will be wasting healthcare workers’ valuable time and you won’t be vaccinated.

“You must be eligible to be vaccinated to receive the vaccine.”

By February 15, the Government aims to have offered a first vaccine dose to everyone in the top four priority groups – care home residents and workers, NHS frontline staff, the over-70s and the extremely clinically vulnerable – which amounts to 13.9 million people across the UK.

In Derbyshire, this equals around 240,000 people.

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