LISTEN: Vaccine error within Belfast Trust ''very worrying'' says MLA

By Q Radio News

It’s claimed that the Belfast Trust offered Covid-19 vaccines to community and voluntary groups ahead of other front-line workers.

The Alliance Party’s health spokesperson says the revelation will be very hurtful to teachers and police officers who’ve asked to be prioritised. 

Paula Bradshaw also said Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people who’ve been shielding for nearly a year will struggle to understand the rationale.

It's understood those who have received a first dose in error will be offered a second dose. 

Q Radio has contacted the trust for comment. 

A letter, obtained by BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, was sent to organisations in the community and voluntary sector, which are in partnership with the trust on January 21. 

It's reported that the only criteria was that staff in the arts sector, community groups, relationship counselling and childcare services were "client-facing".

It's not known how many vaccines had been given out to people in error.

A week after the mix-up, the trust limited the offer to "staff working with physiologically vulnerable adults", for example those with respiratory conditions.

The reversal came after an intervention by the Department of Health which has resisted pressure to deviate from the guidance of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the groups that should be prioritised for vaccination, largely based on age and clinical vulnerability.